Nigeria shuts down store accused of restricting entry to Chinese Nationals only

Nigeria’s competition regulator has taken action and shut down a Chinese-owned supermarket in Abuja over allegations of racial discrimination, according to local media reports.

Concerns arose on April 21 when reports surfaced that the supermarket was allowing entry to Chinese nationals while denying access to Nigerians. Following an investigation and discussions with staff, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) moved to close the establishment, according to the Daily Post newspaper.

“The supermarket, located at the China General Chamber of Commerce along Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Road in the Federal Capital Territory, exclusively permits individuals of Chinese descent to enter,” stated the commission.

The Sun newspaper reported that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria refuted these allegations and reaffirmed its commitment to inclusivity and equality.

“It believes in equality and inclusiveness,” remarked the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria.

This incident is not isolated, as previous instances of alleged racism towards Africans have garnered attention. In 2022, China vowed to address racism following an exposé by the BBC, which uncovered a Chinese video-maker exploiting vulnerable children across Africa, including instructing them to utter racist phrases.

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