ABUJA – After summons by Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Nigeria’s antitrust agency, owners of the Abuja-based Chinese supermarket criticized for discriminatory practices against Nigerians face an uncertain future.
The supermarket located in the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Abuja ran into stormy waters after viral video showed the security officers maintaining that Nigerians are not welcomed to shop in the supermarket.
On Monday FCCPC stormed the Chinese Supermarket in Abuja and shut down the facility.
On arrival at the Supermaket located at Royal Choice Estate along Airport Road, situated at the Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Abuja, the gate of the Supermarket was already under lock and key.
All attempts made by the enforcement team from the FCCPC to gain entry to the premises of the Supermarket proved abortive.
The team therefore, pasted a letter of summon at the gate of the supermarket.
But reacting, owner of the supermarket, Mrs Liu Bei, said that the whole controversy was all a misunderstanding.
She also clarified that her establishment is not a supermarket but rather a retail shop aimed at meeting the essential needs of her local community.
In a statement in Chinese and English a day after her shop was shutdown, she noted that that she felt scared seeing many people she didn’t know in front of her store.
Her reaction followed a summon notice and threat of sanctions by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on Monday after it sealed her store.
Reports had it that the supermarket had implemented a controversial policy restricting entry solely to Chinese nationals, excluding Nigerians from patronising the establishment.
This policy sparked widespread condemnation across various social media platforms as Nigerians voiced their concerns over the discriminatory treatment.
But in her defence, Bei stated that she sold to residents, workers, and visitors who came to her store after visiting the office building, regardless of nationality.
According to her, the small retail shop is not a supermarket like other grocery stores and revealed plans to close the shop after downsizing operations in December 2023.
But her argument may not sway authorities given the stance of FCCPC.
Addressing newsmen at the entry gate of the supermarket, Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka, Director, Surveilance and Investigation, FCCPC, said the mission of the Commission, was in response to the viral video where Nigerian consumers were allegedly being discriminated against and prevented access into the supermarket located in Abuja.
According to Adeyinka, “The essence of the surveillance and investigation that we conducted today is to verify the allegations and the contents of that viral video.
“On arrival, we noticed that the supermarket, which is right behind me, was sealed and padlocked externally.
“Enquiries have shown that yes, as at this morning, this supermarket was opened and people were here.
“CCTV footage also shows that at about 8: 29am, two vehicles departed from these premises allegedly conveying the owner of the supermarket, whom we have been able to identify by name and we have her contact details.
“Since she’s not around and the place is locked, we have served a notice on her to appear before the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Wednesday, 24th of April, 2024 by 11am.
“There are other regulatory tools to be deployed, if she fails to attend to this summon.”
Commenting further on the event of failure of the owner of the supermarket to honour the Summon, Adeyinka said: “If she fails to attend to this summon, which is a lawful inquiry, the mandate of the Commission under its powers, is investigative powers, is to seal the premises until she complies with the summons of the Commission, meaning that this place will remain locked until she appears before the Commission, that is, if she fails to voluntarily surrender to the summons that we have issued on this.”
Adeyinka warned that it is unlawful to discriminate against any person in Nigeria by foreigners, adding that the Commission would not condone such act.
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