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Drama as Abuja Chinese supermarket shuts doors after media report

Published

11 months ago

April 22, 2024

By Francesca Hangeior

The Abuja-based Chinese supermarket criticised for refusing to allow Nigerians to shop in its facility is currently closed after reports from PUNCH Online.

Reports have it that the grocery store was closed with an anti-theft padlock on Monday at 9.10 am.

Earlier on Sunday, Nigerians had expressed outrage over a discriminatory policy implemented by the Chinese Supermarket, which restricted entry exclusively to its citizens and barred Nigerians.

The supermarket situated at the China General Chamber of Commerce, along Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Road in Abuja, is acclaimed as a destination for Chinese cuisine and beverages.

When our correspondent visited the supermarket to confirm the authenticity of the claim on Sunday, security personnel at the gate confirmed that the management of the store had given the directive at the beginning of the year without giving reasons.

One of the guards who didn’t wear his name tag and declined to disclose his name, said prospective shoppers who are not Chinese are turned back at the gate as directed by the management.

The officer said, “For now, they (management) have stopped everything. The truth is that they are selling, but they said our people should stop coming. They said only Chinese individuals are allowed to shop here. The shop is only meant for Chinese people. People were allowed to come in throughout last year, but since January, they changed the policy and directed that no Nigerian is allowed to enter.

“We were not informed of any reason for the policy, but we have told them to remove all adverts from the Internet so that people would stop coming.”

Our correspondent was, however, allowed entrance because, according to the officer, “Today is Sunday, and you are covered with grace.”

At the grocery store located at Villa 7, a mixture of foreign and local food, drinks, and essential items was showcased on the shelf with no price tag.

One of the attendants, who speaks the Yoruba language, expressed shock that a Nigerian was allowed to gain entry, noting that “Maybe they allowed because you didn’t come with a car.”

She also stated that authorities stopped Nigerians from entering for reasons not known to them.

She noted, “Yes, Nigerians are not allowed to enter the supermarket. Only people who work on the premises are allowed to shop here. There are reasons but we don’t know because it was not like this before. I don’t know how they allowed you in, maybe because you didn’t come with a car. They would never allow anyone who comes with a car to enter the premises.

But at the gate on Monday, our correspondent met another set of security personnel who granted access without any questions.

The guard who did have a name tag said, “You want to go to the supermarket? You can go, without asking further questions.

Attempts to speak with passersby on reasons for the closure proved abortive as they claimed not to have information about the situation.

No one went in or out of the compound for over 45 minutes while our correspondent was outside the premises.

Our correspondent also observed heavy security presence on the street leading to the supermarket.

More Details Soon…

News

Shocking! Lassa Fever kills doctor, 97 others in 2025 in Nigeria

Published

1 hour ago

March 10, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has emphasised the growing urgency for Nigerians to maintain rodent-free environments and enhance personal hygiene amid the ongoing Lassa fever outbreak.

With the disease spreading and already claiming 98 lives in 2025, including a medical doctor, the agency stressed the need for preventive measures such as proper waste disposal, sealing food in airtight containers, and blocking rodent entry points.

The agency’s Director General (DG), Jide Idris, said that the public health advisory became necessary due to the alarming case fatality rate of 18.3% as of epidemiological week 9 (February 24 – March 2, 2025).

During the period, he said the 98 deaths were recorded across 14 States, including that of a health worker, a physician.

Breaking down the figures, the DG revealed that as of the period under review, Nigeria has recorded 2,728 suspected cases and 535 confirmed cases.

He said Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi States accounted for 91% of confirmed cases, while 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) contributed 68% of the total cases.

Providing details on the physician’s case, Idris said the agency was notified of a confirmed Lassa fever infection in a 31-year-old physician who had recently returned from the United Kingdom.

On the 5th of March 2025, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) was notified of a confirmed case of Lassa fever by the Ondo State Ministry of Health, in a 31-year-old physician managed at a private health facility in Ondo State after returning from a trip abroad (UK).

“The patient departed Nigeria on 19/02/2025 and returned on 27/02/2025. Samples were taken late on Friday, 28/02/2025, on suspicion of Lassa fever, but the patient unfortunately passed away in the early hours of Saturday, 01/03/2025.

“The laboratory investigation result returned was a Lassa Fever positive on PCR on Tuesday 04/03/2025.

“The patient was said to have visited his fiancée in Edo state, as well as family and friends before travelling,” he said.

The DG assured that to contain the outbreak, the Ondo State Ministry of Health has intensified contact tracing and monitoring of all possible contacts.

He also noted that national health authorities have mobilised response efforts, including surveillance at points of entry and coordination with international health agencies.

News

Just in: Why Mallam El-Rufai dumped APC for SDP revealed

Published

1 hour ago

March 10, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Ex-Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

His resignation letter has been submitted already to the leadership of the APC in his ward in Kaduna State.

Mallam El-Rufai who was the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has moved to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and has instructed all his supporters and associates to join the SDP.

The former Kaduna Governor cited an alleged growing discord between his personal values and the current direction of the APC as the primary reason for his decision.

In a statement he made available Monday, 10 March, 2025, El-Rufai expressed disappointment with the APC’s leadership, accusing the party of straying from the progressive ideals of its founding members.

He revealed that he had raised concerns about the party’s trajectory both privately and publicly over the past two years but found no willingness among the current leadership to address the issues.

“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party,” El-Rufai stated.

El-Rufai, who played a key role in the formation of the APC in 2013, recalled his efforts in negotiating the merger of political parties that led to the creation of the ruling party. He also highlighted his contributions to the APC’s electoral successes in 2015, 2019, and 2023, as well as his tenure as Kaduna State Governor, during which he implemented policies focused on education, healthcare, infrastructure, job creation, and investment.

“My eight-year tenure in Kaduna State was devoted to implementing progressive policies to advance human development,” he said. “These records count for little in the current APC that has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years. I find this no longer acceptable.”