Abuja Chinese Supermarket Owner Refutes Claims of Barring Nigerians
Abuja Chinese Supermarket Owner Refutes Claims of Barring Nigerians
The owner of a Chinese supermarket in Abuja, accused of barring Nigerians and restricting entry to Chinese nationals, has denied allegations that her store caters exclusively to a specific group of people.
She emphasized that her establishment is not a supermarket but a retail shop designed to serve the essential needs of her local community.
Liu Bei made this clarification in a personally signed statement in both Chinese and English on Tuesday, indicating that she felt anxious when unfamiliar people gathered outside her store.
Her response came after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission issued a notice of summons and threatened sanctions on Monday following the closure of her store.
The supermarket had implemented a controversial policy that allowed entry exclusively to Chinese nationals, effectively barring Nigerians from patronizing the establishment.
This policy drew widespread criticism on social media, with many Nigerians expressing outrage over what they saw as discriminatory treatment.
In her defence, Bei explained that she serves residents, workers, and visitors from the nearby office building who visit her shop, regardless of their nationality.
She clarified that the establishment is a small retail shop, not a supermarket like other grocery stores, and disclosed plans to shut it down after downsizing operations in December 2023.
Here is the full statement:
"I've seen news reports alleging that Chinese supermarkets are not allowing Nigerians to enter and shop.
"There are now a lot of people in front of my store, and I don't know where they've come from. I feel uneasy, and I want to clarify the situation.
"My shop is in the Royal Choice Estate, Airport Road, Abuja. It's a small retail shop, not a large supermarket like SHOPRITE. I mostly sell to local residents and people who work in the area. Sometimes, visitors come by after visiting the nearby office building, and we serve everyone regardless of nationality.
"Since December 2023, I've downsized my shop's operations and have plans to close soon.
"I don't discriminate against Nigerians; I even employ several local staff and we have a great working relationship. However, for safety reasons, the community has rules for visitors, so not everyone can enter the estate freely."
Leave A Comment