The China General Chamber of Commerce, CGCC, in Nigeria has denied claims that Nigerians are being denied access to the Chinese supermarket located within the premises of the Royal Choice Estate, Airport Road, Abuja.
Recall that the supermarket was sealed by officials of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, over the alleged discriminatory practices against Nigerians on Monday.
The visit of the FCCPC officials and the consequent sealing off of the facility followed a viral video posted by an unidentified FCT resident alleging that a Nigerian was denied access to the Chinese Supermarket.
The video author also said officials at the facility said Nigerians were not allowed into the supermarket.
However, the Secretary of CGCC, Mr Cui Guangzheng, in a statement in Abuja denied the claim.
Guangzheng said the Chinese chamber in Nigeria is committed to ensuring equality and inclusiveness.
“The China Chamber of Commerce is one of several enterprises using the facility, and the supermarket in question is located in the residential area of the estate.
“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
“Our principles are to enhance friendship between the people of both countries and promote economic development,” he said.
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Meanwhile the owner of the supermarket has refuted claims that her store is only meant for a specific group of people.
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.
Liu Bei disclosed this in a personally signed statement written in Chinese and English Language on Tuesday, noting that she feels scared seeing a lot of people she doesn’t know in front of her store.
Bei stated that she sells to residents, workers, and visitors who come to her store after visiting the office building, regardless of nationality.
“My name is Liu Bei. I watched PUNCH’s news about Chinese supermarkets not allowing Nigerians to enter for shopping.
“Now there are a lot of people in front of my store who I don’t know where they come from. I feel scared and I want to explain something.
“My shop is in the Royal Choice Estate, Airport Road, Abuja. It’s a small retail shop, not a supermarket like SHOPRITE. I mainly sell things to community residents and people who work here. Sometimes some visitors will come to my store to buy something after visiting the company In the office building, regardless of nationality.
“Since December 2023, I downsized the operations of my shop and have been planning to close.
“I don’t discriminate against any Nigerians, I even have several local employees in my store and we have a good relationship. However, for safety reasons, the community has requirements for visitors, so not everyone can enter the community directly.
“I feel sorry for the altercation between the security guard and the visitor in the video. Two Nigerians did come to my store that day to buy something, and I sold to them,” the statement read.
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