Lagos trade fair protest was by few miscreants — Police

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The Lagos State Police Command has described the protest by traders at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex over the activities of Chinese retailers as the handiwork of a few “miscreants” and “disgruntled fellows”.

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The command said those involved had been cautioned and would be arrested, while assuring Nigerians and foreign investors that the situation at the complex was peaceful.

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The Area ‘E’ Commander of the Lagos State Police Command, ACP Chike Oti, stated this on Tuesday during a briefing at the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association market, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos.

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In a video interview by The Cable, Oti, who spoke alongside the Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Prince Lanre Sanusi, officials of ASPMDA, other security agencies and representatives of the Chinese community, said there had been no fight at the market.

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He said, “I want to assure all Nigerians and foreign investors that there is peace, security and tranquillity within the complex.

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“This is just the handiwork of a few miscreants, few disgruntled fellows in the market, a handful of them that went the other way. They have been cautioned and arrests will be made as soon as possible.

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“There’s no problem. Everything is peaceful. There was no fight at all. Everything is okay, peaceful and calm.”

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The protest had taken place at markets within the Trade Fair Complex after Nigerian traders complained about the activities of Chinese nationals, particularly their alleged involvement in retail sales.

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The traders accused some Chinese businesses of moving beyond wholesale operations to selling directly to consumers, arguing that their ability to import goods directly from China enabled them to sell at prices local retailers could not match.

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The protesters called for Chinese vendors to stop retail trading in the market, with some displaying placards bearing messages including, “The Chinese must go.”

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However, the President of ASPMDA, Nnamdi Ngozi Emechebe, described the incident as a minor protest which was immediately brought under control.

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Emechebe said the market leadership had also met on Tuesday to address the issues arising from the protest.

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“What happened here yesterday is a minor protest, which was brought under control immediately. But, you know, the news has gone very viral.

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“We even held further meeting this morning to harmonise all issues. The fake news was brought under control.

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“So, I’m assuring the rest of the world and Nigerians at large that there’s no issue in ASPMDA Plaza. We are a highly organised trade association, so everything is under our control,” he said.

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The Amuwo-Odofin council chairman, Sanusi, said security agencies, including the Department of State Services, Nigeria Immigration Service and the police, were at the market to assess the situation.

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He said there was no problem between Nigerian and Chinese traders operating in the market.

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“We are just here to let the community, Lagosians and Nigerians and everybody around the world know that here in Amuwo-Odofin, Trade Fair Market, ASPMDA, we don’t have any problem between the traders, Chinese and the Nigerians here. Everything is fine,” Sanusi said.

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The chairman said he had briefed the officials about the situation and expressed confidence that the state government would be properly informed.

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He also commended the security agencies and market leadership for their intervention.

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A representative of the Chinese community in ASPMDA also said Chinese traders were continuing their businesses peacefully in the market.

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“Every day we are open and do business very peacefully and the customer like all the products here,” she said.

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She added that ASPMDA was a peaceful market and called on customers from across Nigeria to continue doing business there.

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“We are believing ASPMDA Association have the ability to handle the business and make it peace, and Nigeria is good market. We are enjoying and happy with it,” she said.

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Speaking in Mandarin, the Chinese representative said Nigeria offered opportunities for people interested in doing business.

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“Nigeria is a very big market, and everyone can find opportunities here. Everyone is welcome to come and take a look, to find opportunities to do business,” she said.

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The protest and subsequent briefing came amid growing complaints from some Nigerian traders about competition from Chinese businesses operating within the Trade Fair Complex.

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The traders have alleged that Chinese retailers were bypassing traditional distribution channels by selling directly to consumers, a development they said was affecting their businesses.

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They also called for dialogue involving Chinese businesses, Nigerian traders and relevant authorities to address the dispute.

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At Tuesday’s briefing, however, the police and market authorities maintained that the situation had been brought under control, while the Chinese community said it remained committed to doing business in Nigeria.

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