Traders at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway have protested the alleged involvement of Chinese nationals in retail trading, accusing the development of putting local businesses under severe pressure.
The protest, which took place at markets within the complex, saw traders carrying placards demanding that Chinese nationals stop selling directly to consumers and leave retail trading to Nigerian businesses.
Videos circulating on social media showed protesters displaying messages including “Chinese must go” as they voiced concerns over what they described as unfair competition in the trading environment.
One of the protesters alleged that Chinese nationals initially entered Nigeria primarily to engage in wholesale trading but had increasingly expanded into retail, creating additional pressure for local traders.
According to him, Chinese traders enjoy significant advantages because of their access to capital and direct business connections with manufacturers and suppliers in China.
He alleged that some Chinese vendors also obtain customer information from waybills and subsequently contact the customers directly, offering similar products at lower prices after importing them from China.
The trader argued that the practice makes it increasingly difficult for Nigerian retailers, who operate through local distribution channels and incur additional costs, to compete effectively.
He stressed that the protesters were not advocating violence or the destruction of Chinese-owned businesses, warehouses or shops.
Rather, he said, their demand was for Chinese nationals to refrain from competing directly with Nigerian traders in the retail market.
The protest highlights growing concerns among traders over the structure of competition within Nigeria’s informal and organised retail sectors, particularly the impact of direct importation and foreign-owned retail operations on locally owned businesses.
The protesters are calling for relevant government authorities to examine the situation and enforce existing regulations governing foreign participation in Nigeria’s retail trade.
