The Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board (LITFCMB) has moved to douse growing tension between Nigerian traders and Chinese business operators at the complex, assuring investors of a fair and lawful business environment while urging aggrieved traders to shun self-help.

The intervention followed a protest by traders at the complex over the alleged involvement of Chinese nationals in retail trading, with the protesters accusing the foreign operators of selling directly to consumers and taking customers away from Nigerian retailers.

The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of LITFCMB, Veronica Safiya Ndanusa, in a statement, said the concerns raised by the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA) over the activities of Chinese retail traders deserved attention, particularly in the areas of fair competition, market access and regulatory compliance.

Ndanusa, however, stressed that the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerian businesses should not be interpreted as hostility towards legitimate foreign investment.

She said the objective was to ensure that both Nigerian and foreign businesses operated within the law and contributed to the development of the country’s commercial sector.

The development followed Monday’s protest at markets within the Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, where some traders displayed placards including “Chinese must go” and accused Chinese businesses of moving from wholesale operations into direct retailing.

The protesters alleged that Chinese operators had an advantage over Nigerian traders because of their direct access to manufacturers and suppliers in China, enabling them to sell at prices local retailers claimed they could not match.

They also alleged that some Chinese businesses had established shops and warehouses within the complex and were selling directly to consumers. The allegations have not been independently verified.

Ndanusa said Nigerian traders had built their livelihoods in the complex over the years and that their concerns could not be ignored.

She said the board was committed to its mandate of promoting trade and investment, managing infrastructure and supporting the development of the complex as a commercial hub.

According to her, “Nigeria’s openness to legitimate foreign investment and the protection of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are not conflicting objectives, but complementary components of the country’s economic development agenda.”

She added that the activities of Nigerian and foreign businesses should complement one another and contribute to the wider economic interests of the country.

The LITFCMB also assured international investors operating lawfully in the complex that their investments, property and physical safety remained protected.

“Nigeria honours its bilateral trade agreements and continues to welcome foreign investors that operates strictly within our statutory framework,” she said.

Ndanusa’s statement came as authorities and market leaders sought to prevent the dispute from escalating.

The Lagos State Police Command said the situation at the complex remained peaceful after the protest, with Area ‘E’ Commander, ACP Chike Oti, assuring Nigerian traders and foreign investors of security. He said arrests would be made where necessary.

The President of ASPMDA, Nnamdi Ngozi Emechebe, also described the incident as a minor protest that was quickly brought under control, saying the association had subsequently met to harmonise the issues.

Ndanusa therefore appealed to ASPMDA members and youth representatives to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their hands, saying the management was engaging stakeholders towards finding a lasting solution.