PUNCH
Gbenga Oloniniran writes about the discrimination experienced by some Nigerians on the premises of foreign businesses where they are met with restrictions despite being in Nigeria
On Sunday, Nigerians expressed outrage over a discriminatory policy implemented by an Abuja-based Chinese supermarket, which restricted entry exclusively to its citizens and barred Nigerians.
Our correspondent, who visited the mall located within the China General Chamber of Commerce in Abuja, reported that entry into the supermarket, without any name inscription, was restricted exclusively to individuals of Chinese descent.
An X user, @DejiAdesogan, had also written, “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.”
Following The PUNCH report, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission sealed the supermarket.
Visiting the premises on Monday, the commission’s officials led by the Director for Surveillance and Investigation, Boladale Adeyinka said the mission of the commission was in response to the viral video when Nigerians were allegedly being discriminated against and denied access to the supermarket.
The owner of the supermarket has also been summoned. This was as workers at the store disclosed that the owner of the supermarket fled the premises.
Adeyinka said, “There are other regulatory tools to be deployed, if she (the owner) fails to attend to this summons. The summons means that on entering into these premises, they must see the summons because that is how they gain access to it.”
But the Abuja supermarket is not the only business barring or discriminating against Nigerians.
Discriminations were also reported in Lagos. While reacting to the post by @DejiAdesogan on Sunday, an X user @decommonroom wrote “The Indian school in Ilupeju only admits Indians. You need an Indian passport for enrollment.”
In a further chat with The PUNCH, he said, “My experience with the Indian international school in Ilupeju dates back to when my school had a debate competition with them in 2009. I discovered there were only Indian students. I was curious as to why because my school was also an international school and run by a foreign embassy with primarily expatriate kids and few Nigerians. Then I was informed their passport was a prerequisite for admission.”
Our correspondent therefore visited the Indian Language School Ilupeju, located in Lagos to investigate the claim.
Our correspondent who visited the school on Monday reports that several Indians and their kids were seen entering and leaving the brown building opposite Rite Price Supermarket, Akinteye Drive in Ilupeju.
Flooded with Indians, many of them live on the street as they were seen buying items freely at several shops, malls and stands operated by Nigerians.
