Afrigather The administration of an Abuja-based Chinese language grocery store has come beneath fireplace for denying Nigerians entry into the ability.
Our correspondent stories that entry into the grocery store is restricted solely to people of Chinese language descent.
The grocery store located on the China Basic Chamber of Commerce, alongside Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Highway within the Federal Capital Territory, is acclaimed as a vacation spot for Chinese language delicacies and drinks.
A video posted by X Day by day confirmed an unidentified FCT resident expressing discontent in regards to the discriminatory coverage .
The resident stated, “Wonders shall by no means finish. There’s a grocery store I noticed on-line that may be a Chinese language grocery store. They’ve Chinese language meals, ramen and different issues. I wished to go there and test it out however I used to be denied entry. The safety officers on the gate stated the grocery store was strictly for Chinese language folks and no Nigerian is allowed to go inside or purchase something. Is that doable in China?
“This grocery store is right here in Abuja and a Nigerian can not enter. This can be a joke. So which means a Chinese language man has extra rights than you right here in Nigeria. Chinese language guys are allowed to go to wherever within the nation. The factor shocked me oo. Now I’m going again to our native grocery store as a result of they stated I can not enter.”
Uncle Deji @DejiAdesogan additionally wrote on X, “So there’s a Chinese language grocery store in Abuja that Nigerians can not enter, not to mention purchase something, that solely Chinese language are allowed? So bizarre to consider.”
One other X consumer, Otunba AbdulFattah @OyedeleFatai, corroborating the declare, stated he was denied entrance twice this yr.
“Sure! China Chambers of Commerce alongside airport street. I used to be denied entry twice this yr. The safety informed me that they’ve stopped Nigerians from getting into the premises since January 2024. Nonsense! @NafdacAgency @fccpcnigeria,” he wrote.
He added, “Fascinating. We hope Oga @YusufTuggar will attend to your concern raised.”
A assessment by Whitney Ukanga on the chamber’s Google web page learn, “The Chinese language have step by step seeped their nasty tentacles onto Nigeria. Nigerians have been forbidden to get into the grocery store within the China Chamber of Commerce however each different nationality could enter. In our personal nation. That is completely horrible and absurd.”
When our correspondent visited the grocery store to verify the authenticity of the declare on Sunday, safety personnel on the gate confirmed that the administration of the chamber gave the directive at the start of the yr with out giving causes.
One of many officers who didn’t put on his title tag and declined to reveal his title, stated potential customers who aren’t Chinese language are turned again on the gate as directed by the administration.
The officer stated, “For now, they (administration) have stopped the whole lot. The reality is that they’re promoting however they stated our folks ought to cease coming. They stated solely Chinese language people are allowed to buy right here. The store is just meant for Chinese language folks. Individuals had been allowed to come back in all through final yr however since January, they modified the coverage and directed that no Nigerian is allowed to enter.
“We weren’t knowledgeable of any motive for the coverage however we now have informed them to take away all adverts from the web so that folks would cease coming.”
Our correspondent was nonetheless allowed entrance as a result of, in response to the officer, “Right this moment is Sunday and you might be coated with grace.”
On the grocery retailer positioned at Villa 7, a combination of international and native meals, drinks and important objects was showcased on the shelf with no price ticket.
One of many attendants, who speaks Yoruba Language, expressed shock {that a} Nigerian was allowed to realize entry, noting that “possibly they allowed since you didn’t include a automotive.”
She additionally acknowledged that authorities stopped Nigerians from getting into for causes not identified to them.
She famous, “Sure, Nigerians aren’t allowed to enter the grocery store. Solely individuals who work on the premises are allowed to buy right here. There are causes however we don’t know as a result of it was not like this earlier than. I don’t how they allowed you in, possibly since you didn’t include a automotive. They might by no means enable anybody who comes with a automotive to enter the premises.”
When our correspondent requested for the contact of the final supervisor to get official explanations, each safety officers and workers refused to offer it out for concern of reprimand and lack of job.
However an official quantity obtained from the Google web page of the chamber, recognized by True caller as Yemi Oke, Agrolink Consultants Restricted, was not reachable.
On his half, the Senior Public Relations Officer, Federal Competitors and Shopper Safety Fee, Nicholas Utsalo, shunned providing remark, citing protocol that solely permits the Govt Vice Chairman to handle the press.
As a substitute, he requested entry to the video footage and warranted the general public that an investigation into the allegations can be performed.
