The China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria has denied stopping Nigerians from entering its Abuja-based supermarket, News About Nigeria reports.
This clarification follows social media uproar and the move by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to seal the Chinese Supermarket over refusal to allow Nigerians into the market.
Speaking on the alleged discrimination in a statement by its Secretary, Mr. Cui Guangzheng, the China Chamber of Commerce explained that the Royal Choice Estate, Airport Road, Abuja where the supermarket is located is not entirely a supermarket but also a residential building.
According to him, the estate comprises of an office complex and several residential apartments.
Guangzheng further explained that the residential area of the estate consists of private residents who adhere strictly to security protocols in granting access to external visitors which was why the Nigerian shoppers were not allowed into the estate.
He clarified that the security didn’t permit the shoppers into the estate because they didn’t have permit.
He maintained that it was not the supermarket security that denied them access.
The statement partly reads, “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, which is unrelated to the China Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria.
“No individual was subjected to discrimination or denied access to the estate or supermarket to purchase groceries as widely believed.”
The Secretary of the China Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria further noted that one of their primary objective is equality and inclusiveness which is why they are in Nigeria to build that, so, they are not in any way connected to what happened between the estate security and the visitors.
“The China General Chamber of Commerce emphasized its commitment to equality and inclusiveness and welcomed first-hand visits to witness the truth.Our principles are to enhance friendship between the people of both countries and promote economic development,” he noted.
