The Lagos State Police Command has vowed to arrest individuals who organised a protest against the presence of Chinese traders at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex.
The protest, which attracted attention on social media, saw a group of traders chanting, “Chinese must go,” while calling on Chinese merchants operating at the market to leave.
The protesters, however, said their demonstration was not targeted at Chinese nationals or intended to promote violence against them. Rather, they claimed they were protesting the alleged involvement of some Chinese businesses in retail trading, which they said was negatively affecting Nigerian traders.
One of the protesters alleged that Chinese businesses were selling goods directly to consumers at prices Nigerian traders could not compete with.
“We no longer make sales. If you import goods, they slash their prices lower than ours and sell to our customers,” the trader said.
He further alleged that some Chinese businesses had rented shops and established warehouses within the trade fair complex, where they allegedly sold directly to customers.
The trader also claimed that some businesses obtained customers’ telephone numbers through waybills and subsequently contacted them to market their products.
According to the protesters, their major concern was the alleged competition posed by Chinese businesses engaging in retail activities, rather than hostility towards Chinese nationals.
“If any of us spoils anything here, the person will pay for it. We are not saying we are going to beat the Chinese or destroy their warehouses,” the trader said.
He added that Nigerian traders had maintained cordial relationships with Chinese business owners but objected to their alleged participation in retail trading.
The protest prompted the intervention of security agencies, with the Lagos State Police Command describing those behind the demonstration as a “handful” of disgruntled individuals and warning that arrests would be made.
The development followed a meeting attended by the Chairman of Amuwo Local Government, Prince Lanre Sanusi; officials of the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA); the Lagos State Police Command, led by the Area Commander; and other security agencies.
Speaking during the briefing, the Area Commander, who represented the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, said the protest was carried out by a small group of individuals.
“What happened was the handiwork of a few miscreants, few disgruntled fellows in the market. A handful of them that went the other way. And they have been cautioned, and arrests will be made as soon as possible,” he said.
The ASPMDA leadership said the situation was quickly brought under control following the intervention of security personnel.
Videos of the incident had earlier circulated on social media, showing traders gathered at the market and chanting against the presence of Chinese merchants.
The Chinese Community in ASPMDA also responded to the situation, with its president addressing the gathering in both English and Chinese.
She described Lagos and Nigeria as “a good market” and said members of the Chinese community were happy doing business in the country.
She did not indicate that the protest had affected the Chinese community’s willingness to continue operating in Lagos.
The meeting involving the local government, market authorities, police and other security agencies was aimed at calming tensions and reassuring traders and other business operators that the situation had been brought under control.
Police authorities are expected to continue monitoring the market as investigations proceed, amid concerns that the dispute could heighten tensions between Nigerian traders and Chinese merchants.
