Metro
Viral Video Of Chinese Supermarket In Abuja Denying Nigerians Entry
A Chinese supermarket in Abuja has come under fire after a Nigerian man was denied entry, with the management reportedly citing restrictions to Nigerian customers.
In the viral footage, the unidentified Nigerian man can be seen expressing his frustration and shock as he is turned away at the supermarket entrance.
The management reportedly cited restrictions to Nigerian customers, prompting the man to voice his dismay at the discriminatory treatment.
In his statement captured in the video, the man lamented the situation, noting the inconvenience of having to seek out alternative shopping venues despite his interest in exploring Chinese cuisine and products.
The resident said, “Wonders shall never end. There is a supermarket I saw online that is a Chinese supermarket. They have Chinese food, ramen, and other things. I wanted to go there and check it out but I was denied entry.
Viral Video Of Chinese Supermarket In Abuja Denying Nigerians Entry
The security officers at the gate said the supermarket was strictly for Chinese people and no Nigerian is allowed to go inside or buy anything. Is that possible in China?
“This supermarket is here in Abuja and a Nigerian cannot enter. This is a joke. So that means a Chinese guy has more rights than you here in Nigeria. Chinese guys are allowed to visit anywhere in the country.
Read more reactions below;
The thing shocked me oo. Now I am going back to our local supermarket because they said I cannot enter.”
Uncle Deji @DejiAdesogan also wrote on X, “So there’s a Chinese supermarket in Abuja that Nigerians cannot enter, let alone buy anything, that only Chinese are allowed? So weird to believe.”
Another X user, Otunba AbdulFattah @OyedeleFatai, corroborating the claim, said he was denied entrance twice this year.
“Yes! China Chambers of Commerce along airport road. I was denied access twice this year. The security told me that they have stopped Nigerians from entering the premises since January 2024. Nonsense! @NafdacAgency @fccpcnigeria,” he wrote.
He added, “Interesting. We hope Oga @YusufTuggar will attend to your issue raised.”
A review by Whitney Ukanga on the chamber’s Google page read, “The Chinese have gradually seeped their nasty tentacles onto Nigeria.
Nigerians have been forbidden to get into the supermarket in the China Chamber of Commerce but every other nationality may enter. In our own country. This is horrible and absurd.”
Meanwhile, when PUNCH correspondent visited the supermarket to confirm the authenticity of the claim on Sunday, security personnel at the gate confirmed that the management of the chamber gave the directive at the beginning of the year without giving reasons.
One of the officers who didn’t wear his name tag and declined to disclose his name, said prospective shoppers who are not Chinese are turned back at the gate as directed by the management.
The officer said, “For now, they (management) have stopped everything. The truth is that they are selling but they said our people should stop coming.
They said only Chinese individuals are allowed to shop here. The shop is only meant for Chinese people. People were allowed to come in throughout last year but since January, they changed the policy and directed that no Nigerian is allowed to enter.
“We were not informed of any reason for the policy but we have told them to remove all adverts from the internet so that people would stop coming.”
At the grocery store located at Villa 7, a mixture of foreign and local food, drinks, and essential items was showcased on the shelf with no price tag.
One of the attendants, who speaks Yoruba Language, expressed shock that a Nigerian was allowed to gain entry, noting that “maybe they allowed because you didn’t come with a car.”
She also stated that authorities stopped Nigerians from entering for reasons not known to them.
She noted, “Yes, Nigerians are not allowed to enter the supermarket. Only people who work on the premises are allowed to shop here. There are reasons but we don’t know because it was not like this before.
I don’t how they allowed you in, maybe because you didn’t come with a car. They would never allow anyone who comes with a car to enter the premises.”
When PUNCH correspondent asked for the contact of the general manager to get official explanations, both security officers and staff refused to give it out for fear of reprimand and loss of job.
See video below;
There’s a Chinese supermarket in Abuja that is strictly for Chinese people ? Nigerians are not allowed to enter or shop there 🙆🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/Is1wPXLFjB
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) April 21, 2024