Police intervene, to probe protest, arrest organisers

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 trade, with protesters accusing the foreign operators of selling directly to consumers and diverting customers from Nigerian retailers.

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, which enabled them to sell at prices local retailers said 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.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Government and the state Police Command have assured traders, foreign investors and members of the public that normalcy has returned to the complex.

The assurance came as the police said efforts were underway to identify and arrest those alleged to have participated in the demonstration.

The Area ‘E’ Commander of the Lagos State Police Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Chike Oti, who spoke during an assessment of the situation at the complex, said the situation was under control.

He described the protest as the action of a small group of individuals and said the police were taking steps to apprehend those involved.

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