FCCPC Summons Owner Of Chinese Supermarket For Aledged Discrimination

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has summoned the owner of a Chinese Supermarket who allegedly denied Nigerians from patronizing the supermarket.

Speaking during a fact finding mission to the Chinese Supermarket located along Airport Road, Abuja, the Director, Surveillance and Investigation in FCCPC, Mrs Boladale Adeyinka said the move was in reaction to a viral video during the weekend about a Nigerian lady who was descriminated from patronizing the supermarket

According to Mrs Boladale Adeyinka, since the owner of the supermarket fled before their arrival, FCCPC is giving the owner of the supermarket up till Wednesday this week to come to the Commission for necessary investigation into the matter.

The FCCPC Director of Surveillance and Investigation warned foreigners operating businesses in Nigeria against descriminating against Nigerians.

“The mission of FCCPC to this facility is in response to a video that went viral over the weekend where Nigerian consumers were allegedly being discriminated and prevented access into a supermarket located in Nigeria here in Abuja and the essence of the surveillance and investigation we conducted today is to verify the allegations and the content of that viral video and on arrival we noticed that the supermarket was sealed and padlocked externally but enquiry revealed that that as at this morning, the supermarket was opened and people were here” she stated.

“CCTV footage also showed that at about 8:29am, two vehicles Departed from this same premises allegedly carrying the owner of the supermarket whom we’ve been able to identify by name and we have her contact details and since she’s not around and the place is locked, the next thing is to serve notice on her to appear before the FCCPC on Wednesday this week by 11am and there are other regulatory tools to be deployed if she failed to attend to this summon”.

“If she failed to attend to this summon which is a lawful enquiry, the mandate of the Commission under its investigative powers is to seal off the premises until she voluntarily comply to the summon of the Commission” the Director emphasized.

While reiterating the commitment of FCCPC towards protecting Nigerian consumers, Mrs Boladale Adeyinka advised traders and producers against contravening FCCPC regulations to avoid sanctions.

“It is unlawful to discriminate against any person who has any desire or intention to patronize any public shops, facilities or businesses and no Consumer in Nigeria should be discriminated against their rights to patronize any public enterprise and that’s what we are here to protect – Consumers rights to choice”, she added.

Mathew Ayoola, Edited By Grace Namiji