FCCPC Seals Off Shopping Mall Allegedly Exclusive for Chinese Nationals In Abuja.

By Samuel EJIGA

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission ( FCCPC) has sealed off a supermarket allegedly barring Nigerians and limiting entry to Chinese nationals in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

The Mall was sealed off following initial reports that the said supermarket implemented a policy permitting only Chinese nationals to transact business leading to widespread condemnation on the social media.

Owner of the Abuja - based Chinese supermarket, Liu Bel, in a detailed explanation expressed in Chinese and English vehemently denied the accusation, emphasizing that her store does not cater exclusively for any specific group but is a retail shop focused on serving the essential needs of the local community.

She explained that her shop serves residents, workers, and visitors regardless of nationality though, not a supermarket akin to larger grocery stores like Shoprite and disclosed initial plans to close the shop due to operational downsizing in December 2023.

Addressing an incident involving a security guard and a visitor, Bei expressed regret for any misunderstanding and apologized, noting that her actions were not discriminatory while highlighting her positive relationship with local employees which indicates a lack of bias against Nigerians.

Bei further elaborated on safety measures within the community that may restrict entry for some individuals but reiterated her non-discriminatory stance, citing instances of selling to Nigerians who visited her store.