Gbenga Oloniniran discusses the discrimination faced by certain Nigerians within the premises of foreign enterprises, where they encounter limitations despite being in Nigeria.
On Sunday, Nigerians voiced their strong disapproval of a discriminatory policy enforced by a Chinese store located in Abuja. This policy exclusively allowed entrance to Chinese people while prohibiting Nigerians from entering.
Our correspondent, who visited the mall situated in the China General Chamber of Commerce in Abuja, observed that only people of Chinese origin were allowed admission inside the supermarket, which had no visible signage indicating its identity.
Another user, @DejiAdesogan, expressed their concern about a Chinese store in Abuja that appears to be exclusively accessible to Chinese individuals, with Nigerians being denied entry and unable to make purchases. It is quite strange to comprehend.
According to The PUNCH report, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission closed the supermarket.
On Monday, the officers of the commission, headed by the Director for Surveillance and Investigation, Boladale Adeyinka, visited the premises. They stated that the purpose of their visit was to address the incident depicted in the viral video, where Nigerians were reportedly subjected to discrimination and denied entry to the supermarket.
The proprietor of the supermarket has also been summoned. Workers at the store revealed that the proprietor of the grocery left the premises.
Adeyinka stated that there are other regulatory measures that can be implemented if the owner fails to comply with this summons. Entering these premises requires individuals to view the summons as it serves as their means of entrance.
However, the Abuja store is not the sole establishment that is excluding or showing prejudice toward Nigerians.
Incidents of discrimination were also documented in Lagos. In response to @DejiAdesogan’s message on Sunday, @decommonroom stated that the Indian school in Ilupeju exclusively accepts Indian students. Enrollment requires possession of an Indian passport.
During a subsequent conversation with The PUNCH, he stated, “I first encountered the Indian international school in Ilupeju during a debate competition between our schools in 2009.” I found that there were exclusively Indian students. I was inquisitive about the reason for this, as my school was also an international institution managed by a foreign embassy, catering mainly to expatriate children and having just a small number of Nigerian students. Subsequently, I was notified that their passport was a mandatory need for admittance.
To verify the assertion, our correspondent conducted an inquiry at the Indian Language School Ilupeju, situated in Lagos.
According to our correspondent’s visit to the school on Monday, numerous Indian individuals and their children were observed entering and exiting the brown structure across from Rite Price Supermarket, located on Akinteye Drive in Ilupeju.
Overwhelmed by an influx of Indian individuals, a significant number of them are residing on the streets while actively engaging in purchasing goods from various Nigerian-owned shops, malls, and booths.
The building’s premises extend to the rear, where Indian school children may be heard engaging in recreational activities and participating in their educational endeavours.
While walking down the curve behind the school property, our reporter observed a newly constructed two-story building called the “Indian Language School.” A group of construction workers were seen working at the front of the building. The status of the building, whether it was new or not, was uncertain.
Upon returning to the main building and approaching the entrance, it was noticed that there were approximately three security guards stationed at the security post. One of the guards was wearing a uniform, while another appeared to be in his seventies and was dressed in traditional garb. The individuals in question were identifiable as Nigerian security personnel based on their attire and dialogue.
Our correspondent requested information on behalf of his uncle, who has two children and wishes to enrol them in the school.
“Is it true that your uncle is of Indian descent?” A security personnel promptly replied. Our journalist responded affirmatively to allow for further conversations, as reports indicated that Nigerians were not even allowed admission at similar overseas enterprises. Nevertheless, the outcome remained unchanged despite the alternative method.
The security personnel, dressed in uniform, promptly collected the information of our correspondent on a form and proceeded to bring the form to an office. Meanwhile, our correspondent was instructed to wait at the security post.
As our journalist observed, Indian nationals were continuously entering and exiting the area.
After approximately four minutes, the security personnel stated, “They have requested the presence of the individual of Indian nationality, along with his two children.”
“The management stated that, as a Nigerian, they are unable to assist you.” According to an anonymous administrative worker, who is reported to be of Indian origin, it is necessary for the individual in question to attend.
Upon our correspondent’s request to meet with the receptionist or administrative manager, the security personnel informed them that the woman in question would not be available to assist them, as per her explicit instructions.
Despite being informed that the Indian relative of our journalist had not arrived in Nigeria, they still denied him entry.
When questioned about the reason for his denial of admission, another individual at the security checkpoint said to our reporter, “If the owners were of the same ethnic background as us (Nigerians), the situation might have been different. However, these individuals are the ones who possess the knowledge of what they observed, leading them to take such actions.”
The first security man asserted that the admin manager refused to address our correspondent, stating, “They are of Indian nationality.” The administrator is of Indian nationality.
When asked if our correspondent may bring his Indian uncle along when coming to enrol his children, they responded affirmatively, stating “No problem.” “That one is certain,” another individual stated.
When asked for more information on whether Nigerians are permitted to study there, one of them clarified that it is only possible if the child is born to an Indian citizen.
A grocery employee, who spoke anonymously due to concerns about potential consequences, verified to our correspondent that the school mostly caters to the Indian community. “Indeed,” she affirmed, nodding in agreement.
Another resident, Kazeem Ajagbe, who was previously providing directions to our correspondent, nonchalantly shrugged upon learning that the institution primarily caters to Indian students.
Tolu Fafunwa, a keke driver, responded to a question concerning the exclusion of Nigerians from the school by stating, “I also heard the same thing.” Unless you are employed or have a scheduled appointment, Nigerians are not permitted to enter. Therefore, it is impossible for us to ascertain the presence of any illicit activities occurring within that establishment.
According to the material provided on the school’s website, the institution was founded in 1982 as a private school under the authority of The High Commission of India. The institution is associated with the Central Board of Secondary Education, located in New Delhi, and offers classes from BALVATIKA1 to XII.
Our correspondent attempted to contact the school by sending a text, making phone calls to the provided phone number, and sending a message to the specified email address. However, no answer was received.
Upon contacting Vipul Mesariya, the spokesperson for the Indian High Commission in Nigeria, he requested our correspondent to send him an email. As of the time of reporting this article, he had not yet responded to it.
However, an anonymous source within the commission, who lacked authorization to speak to the media, revealed that the Indian school in Nigeria was formed under certain circumstances.
One of the requirements is that the institution will not admit local students. “It is not their responsibility,” he stated.
Furthermore, our correspondent encountered a restriction at the Kindea Chinese Hotel in Maitama, Abuja, where admission to the premises and utilization of the services were limited only to Chinese citizens, in accordance with the hotel’s policy.
According to a staff member, the regulation was implemented in November of last year in response to incidents where Nigerian guests refused to pay their bills and caused damage to certain facilities.
However, the facilities manager, Anita Ejeh, confidently stated that the hotel is exclusively reserved for the owners and international workers of the company during their visits to Nigeria, and is not accessible to the general public.
Ejeh stated that this hotel provides lodging for the employees of Kindea Chinese Hotels. We do not provide accommodations for foreigners. It serves as the official residence for their superiors during their visits to Nigeria. The corporation leased the premises from a Nigerian individual exclusively for their executives, and it is not accessible to the general population.
The Chinese hotel manager, Gt Elly, stated that the hotel has not allowed external guests since the previous year. A couple of years ago, the hotel was open to everyone, but starting last year, we stopped allowing outsiders to enter.
Currently, the hotel primarily caters to our own needs. Prior to their arrival, our collaboration leaders will contact me and provide an RSVP to make a reservation as they will be staying in China. They will likely only spend a week in the hotel.
According to the Maintenance officer, Balam Suleiman, the hotel now employs a staff of twenty individuals. Nigerians do not stay at this hotel, and we do not have any Nigerian guests here.
The circumstances at Panda Supermarket in Jabi, Abuja were distinct. Upon the correspondent’s arrival at approximately 10:40 am, several consumers were witnessed entering and exiting the supermarket without any restrictions.
Our correspondent was granted equal access to the grocery, where he observed approximately five customers, including Chinese nationals involved in commercial transactions.
At the entrance, there were three security officers who were of Nigerian ancestry. Our correspondent also observed three attendants and two cashiers in the supermarket, all of them were of Nigerian descent. They were supervised by a Chinese national.
An anonymous Chinese official from the Embassy in the Federal Capital Territory, who has resided in Nigeria for three years, recognized the intricate nature of the sealed store.
He emphasized that the conduct of the sealed supermarket management did not represent all Chinese citizens, emphasizing the need to approach each country’s distinct difficulties with comprehension and impartiality.
The vast majority of Chinese individuals have a welcoming demeanour. It is evident that many industrialized nations have colonized developing nations, but China has never engaged in bullying emerging nations.
“I have resided in Abuja for over three years and I will continue to remain in Abuja.” The occurrence is an isolated incident and not a widespread problem. “This is unjust towards all Chinese citizens,” the official remarked.
Our correspondent did not witness any form of discrimination at Food Corner and Karma supermarkets, both located near Bonny camp in Lagos. Food Corner is owned by a Lebanese individual, whilst Karma is owned by an Indian one.
During a visit to Food Corner Supermarket, our correspondent noted that there was no discrimination as both Nigerians and foreign citizens were customers of the supermarket.
During our correspondent’s visit to Karma supermarket, two individuals who were presumed to be of Indian nationality were observed taking inventory of the store’s merchandise. Furthermore, there was a complete absence of any kind of discrimination.
Lagos China Town is a neighbourhood in Lagos, Nigeria that is known for its significant Chinese population and cultural influence.
The Nigerian and Chinese national flags were raised together at the highest point of the edifice. As our journalist neared the sole entry to the village, Nigerians were observed entering and exiting.
There were a minimum of six buildings in close proximity. Each building contained multiple retail establishments specializing in the sale of garments and other textiles made from cotton. The majority of these shops were predominantly occupied by individuals from Nigeria.
Prior to entering the entrance, a food vendor, who introduced herself as Mama Blessing, informed our correspondent that she and other entrepreneurs in the community enjoyed unrestricted entry to China Village, allowing tourists to enter the village without any form of scrutiny.
Several Nigerian individuals employed in shops within Chinatown frequent my establishment to purchase meals, as there is a lack of restaurants within the town itself. If necessary, I also visit some of them within the town to retrieve items from them. It is accessible to all individuals without charge. “The security personnel did not inquire about your intentions upon entry,” she said to our correspondent on Monday.
Our correspondent was able to approach the gate without any restrictions, despite the presence of security personnel, including a police officer, at the entrance of the town.
During our correspondent’s visit to the Royal Mandarin Chinese restaurant in the Ibara axis of the Abeokuta South Local Government Area on Monday, it was noted that all the workers encountered were Nigerian.
Conversely, some items in the shopping centre were marked with Chinese labels, perhaps impeding Nigerians from purchasing them due to a lack of comprehension of the Chinese language.
A member of the organization, who spoke anonymously due to not being authorized to speak to the media, said that despite the Chinese branding, the restaurant is actually owned and operated by Nigerians.
He stated that this eatery is merely being called a Chinese restaurant. The ownership and management of the entity lies with a Nigerian individual. All of our primary clients are residents who live in the local area.
Our correspondent observed that a small number of clients were also Nigerian. Abiola Shodehin, a customer, stated that she had been frequenting this restaurant for some time and had not experienced any instances of discrimination. She also mentioned that she had learned that the establishment is owned by a Nigerian.
Upon arrival at the Sagamu Chinese supermarket on Monday, our correspondent proceeded to the goods stand and was greeted by security personnel without any limitations.
However, our writer encountered a language problem while navigating the supermarket due to the cashier being a Chinese person who did not comprehend the English language. This issue presented a communication obstacle, compelling the correspondent to rely on non-verbal cues.
However, it appears that this Chinese store is not adhering to the mandate of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which prohibits supermarkets from engaging in price fixing and not displaying prices of goods. Furthermore, it was noted that the majority of the products were labelled with Chinese branding.
When our writer met certain neighbours in the vicinity, they refuted allegations of discrimination against the local population.
CREDIT: Allschoolabs, NAIRALAND
