Supermarket: Chinese Embassy ‘Doubts’ Report Of Discrimination Against Nigerians

The Chinese Embassy in Abuja has expressed doubts over the veracity of the reports of discrimination being meted out against Nigerians at a Chinese Supermarket located in Abuja, the nation’s capital, following the outrage that trailed the reports.

A source in the embassy who does not want his name in print told our correspondent on Monday that the report by the online edition of a national daily, sounded mischievous because Nigeria and China have very fruitful diplomatic relations. He added that Nigerians have travelled to China for businesses and other important engagements without discrimination.

The newspaper had reported on Sunday that the Chinese supermarket, situated at the China General Chamber of Commerce, along Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Road in Abuja, which is a choice location for Chinese cuisine and beverages, decided to stop Nigerians from accessing its facility.

It was reported that the directive to turn Nigerians away from the supermarket was issued by the management at the beginning of the year without any reasons for such action.

One of the officers at the store was quoted as saying that “for now they (management) have stopped everything. The truth is that they are selling, but they said our people should stop coming. They said only Chinese individuals are allowed to shop here. The shop is only meant for Chinese people. People were allowed to come in throughout last year, but since January, they changed the policy and directed that no Nigerian is allowed to enter.

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“We were not informed of any reason for the policy, but we have told them to remove all adverts from the Internet so that people would stop coming.”

However, the source from the Chinese Embassy said “the story appears to be untrue because Nigerians have visited China several times and have an experience that the Chinese people are friendly and warm. They don’t discriminate against other people.”