No Nigerian has been discriminated against or denied access to the Royal Choice, a Chinese owned supermarket in Abuja the China General Chamber of Commerce, CGCC, in Nigeria said.
The Chamber in a statement issued on Monday stated that the clarification has become necessary following reports that Nigerians are being barred from patronizing the super store.
A viral video had emerged on Monday where a resident in the nation’s capital alleged that he was stopped from entering the Chinese supermarket.
The report had angered not a few Nigerians who demanded a probe of the incident.
In response, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, on April 22, summoned the owners of the supermarket for interrogation.
The commission followed up by sealing the Chinese supermarket yesterday, as demanded by not a few Nigerians who contend that foreigners should not be allowed to discriminate against Nigerians in their own country.
Reacting in a statement yesterday, the Chamber denied any unfair practices and discrimination against Nigerians.
The statement signed by one Guangzheng said the supermarket has never discriminated against any individual, stressing that the store is situated in a residential area where all shoppers can have access.
He said: “No individual was subjected to discrimination or denied access to the estate or supermarket to purchase groceries as widely believed.
“We regret any altercation at the estate’s entrance gate between the security personnel and a customer, it does not reflect the official position of the estate management or the chamber of commerce.”
In March 2020, The Federal shut down two Chinese restaurants located in Victoria Island and Mall 33 Aboyade Cole in Lagos, for refusing to serve Nigerians.
