I DON’T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST NIGERIANS - ABUJA CHINESE STORE OWNER

The owner of an Abuja-based Chinese supermarket alleged to have implemented a discriminatory policy barring Nigerians shoppers and restricting access only to Chinese nationals, has refuted the claims. 

The Chinese lady, who identified herself as Liu Bei in a statement she sent the media on Tuesday, explained that her establishment is not a supermarket but rather a retail shop that was essentially meant to meet the needs of residents of her local community.

Her reaction came after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCPCC) on Monday sealed her store and issued a summon notice and threat of sanction. 

The supermarket’s controversial policy sparked widespread condemnation across various social media platforms. 

But Bei, in her defence, stated that she downsized the shop operations in December 2023 and was planning to close shop. 

Her statement read in part:

“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.”

Nonetheless, she said she sometimes sell to visitors who come to her store after visiting the company In the office building, regardless of nationality.

She, however, admitted that not everyone can enter the community directly for safety reasons.

She said:

“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.”