BY Bunmi Aduloju
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned the owners of a Chinese supermarket, Royal Choice, in Abuja for allegedly refusing to sell to Nigerians.
Royal Choice, located at China General Chamber of Commerce, sells Chinese foods and beverages.
At the weekend, several people expressed dissatisfaction over the policy which reportedly only allows patronage from Chinese customers.
The commission summoned the owner to an investigative hearing “to testify, make dispositions and present evidence with respect to the commission’s ongoing investigation/inquiry”.
FCCPC also directed the supermarket to produce and provide its Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) status report showing the details of all directors as well as “any and all lease agreement”.
“Take notice that you are required to attend in person in compliance Summons. You are further required to produce and provide the above on or before Wednesday, April 24, 2024,” FCCPC wrote.
“Take further notice that failure to comply with this Summons to offence under Section 33 (3) of the FCCPA, and subject to penalties Million Naira (N20,000,000.00), or a term of imprisonment up to three years, or to both penalties and imprisonment.”
In a viral video on April 21, a resident narrated how he was told the supermarket was off-limits to Nigerians.
“There is this Chinese restaurant I saw online. They have food, ramen and other things. So, I wanted to check it out and when I got there the security guard told me the supermarket is strictly for Chinese people. If you are a Nigerian, you can’t go in and can’t buy anything,” he said.
Speaking during the visit, Boladale Adeyinka, director, surveillance and enforcement, FCCPC, said on arrival, the supermarket was sealed and padlocked externally.
“Enquiries have shown that as at this morning, this supermarket was opened and people were here. CCTV footage also showed that at about 8.29 am, two vehicles departed from this premises, allegedly containing the owner of this supermarket,” she said.
On April 18, FCCPC raided two 4U Signature supermarkets located in Wuse area of Abuja, over unfair pricing and expired products.
A day before, FCCPC had urged Nigerians to report businesses hiking prices of goods, saying that despite the naira appreciating against the dollar, costs of commodities are still soaring.
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