FCCPC Seals Chinese Supermarket in Abuja Amid Discriminatory Practices Allegations

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) took decisive action on Monday as they sealed the Chinese supermarket based in Abuja within the premises of the China General Chamber of Commerce. This move came in the wake of severe allegations of discriminatory practices against Nigerians.

When FCCPC officials embarked on a visit to the supermarket, they found themselves compelled to seal the premises after interviewing Nigerian workers present. It was revealed that the owner of the supermarket was conspicuously absent, reportedly fleeing the establishment.

According to Nigerian employees at the store, the owner identified as Cindy Liu Bei, was confirmed to have fled at 8:26 am on Monday, along with her family, a situation captured by the Closed-Circuit Television cameras on-site.

The commission’s action was triggered following public outrage over the supermarket’s policy enforcing exclusive access solely for Chinese nationals, effectively shutting out Nigerians from patronizing the establishment. This development stirred a wave of criticism on social media platforms.

Accompanied by the Director for Surveillance and Investigation, Boladale Adeyinka, the FCCPC representatives who visited the premises declared that their intervention was prompted by a widely circulated video showing alleged discriminatory practices against Nigerians at the supermarket in Abuja.

In a closing statement after the enforcement exercise, Adeyinka reiterated that the owner, Cindy Liu Bei, had absconded with her family earlier that morning, as confirmed by CCTV footage. She stated, ‘The purpose of our investigation today was to verify the claims made in the viral video. On arrival, we found the supermarket sealed and padlocked externally, and it’s been confirmed that the owner has left. Unless she appears before our tribunal, the premises will remain sealed.’