The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has sealed an Abuja-based Chinese supermarket for barring Nigerians and restricting entry to Chinese nationals.
The commission, which on Monday summoned the owner of the supermarket along Airport Road, to appear before it on Wednesday, said it would deploy “regulatory tools” against the management.
The commission gave the directive on Monday following discreet investigations and enquiries from complaints by Nigerians alleging discriminatory practices.
If found wanting, the operator of the supermarket risks sanctions, according to officials.
The PUNCH had reported on Sunday that the supermarket had implemented a controversial policy restricting entry solely to Chinese nationals, excluding Nigerians from patronising the establishment.
This policy sparked widespread condemnation across various social media platforms as Nigerians voiced their concerns over the discriminatory treatment.
But visiting the premises on Monday, the commission officials led by the Director for Surveillance and Investigation, Boladale Adeyinka, said the mission of the commission was in response to the viral video when Nigerians were allegedly being discriminated against and denied access to a supermarket located in Abuja.
Adeyinka, at the end of the enforcement, stated that the owner of the supermarket, a Chinese lady, Cindy Liu Bei, fled on Monday at 8:26 am with her family as confirmed on the Closed-Circuit Television camera.
She said, “The essence of the surveillance and investigation that we conducted today is to verify the allegations and the content of that viral video.
“On arrival, we noticed that the supermarket which is right behind me, was sealed and padlocked externally. Inquiries have shown that yes, as this morning this supermarket was open and people were here.
“CCTV footage also shows that in the morning, two vehicles departed from these very premises allegedly containing the owner of the supermarket, whom we have been able to identify by name and we have her contact details.”
She further directed that the owner appear before the commission tribunal or the compound would remain sealed.
“Now the summons of course, since she’s not around and the place is locked, is to serve notice on her to appear before the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission by Wednesday.
“There are other regulatory tools to be deployed if she fails to attend to this summon. The summons means that on entering into these premises, they must see the summons because that is how they gain access to it”, she said.
She added that if the Chinese owner failed to attend to the summons, which is a lawful inquiry, the mandate of the commission under its powers would seal the premises until she appeared before the commission.
The FCCPC officials subsequently sealed the supermarket. Earlier in the day, the Abuja-based Chinese supermarket closed down its facility following backlash on its controversial policy.
One of our correspondents, who arrived at the premises on Monday at 9.10 am, observed that the grocery store was closed with an anti-theft padlock and no occupant entered the building throughout the day.
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