Business
PHOTOS & VIDEO: Chinese Must Go! — Igbo Traders Protest Chinese Takeover of Their Business in Lagos
Tension reportedly rose at some markets within the Lagos Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway as traders took to the streets to protest the alleged growing involvement of Chinese nationals in retail trading.
Videos circulating online showed groups of traders carrying placards with messages including “Chinese must go,” “They should go far from our market environment and not be taking our customers,” and “This is a peaceful protest.”
Speaking in one of the videos, a trader explained that their major concern was the alleged decision by some Chinese nationals to move beyond wholesale trading and begin selling directly to consumers.
According to him, many Chinese traders initially came to Nigeria primarily for wholesale business. However, he claimed that some have now ventured into retail, using their stronger financial resources and direct connections with manufacturers and suppliers in China to compete with local traders.
The trader insisted that the protest was peaceful and stressed that the protesters had no plans to attack Chinese nationals or destroy their shops, warehouses or other properties.
He acknowledged the importance of the relationship between Nigeria and China but argued that Chinese nationals should not take over businesses traditionally operated by Nigerians.
“We have nothing against the Chinese,” he said in the video, while expressing concern that some of them were allegedly renting shops, building warehouses and selling directly to customers instead of restricting their activities to wholesale trading.
The trader also alleged that some Chinese vendors obtain customers’ contact details through waybills sent by Nigerian traders and subsequently use the information to market directly to those customers.
He further argued that because some Chinese businesses can import goods directly from China, they are able to sell at lower prices, making it increasingly difficult for local traders to compete and retain their customers.
The situation, he warned, could have serious consequences for Nigerian-owned businesses if nothing is done.
He expressed fears that local traders could lose their shops and livelihoods within the next five years if the alleged trend continues, questioning whether such a system was the way previous generations built and sustained their businesses.
The protest comes at a time when concerns remain about tensions involving foreign nationals and local businesses in parts of Africa. In particular, South Africa has experienced xenophobic violence in which foreign-owned businesses and immigrants have sometimes been targeted.
The Lagos traders, however, emphasized that their demonstration was about protecting their livelihoods and demanding what they consider fair competition, rather than attacking Chinese nationals.
Igbo traders at Trade Fair Market, Lagos stage protest against Chinese traders who sell in the market, demanding that they stop selling in the market and leave their country 😱pic.twitter.com/eJWdGRM5eV
— Mide.O 🩷 (@Midatlblog) September 15, 2026
FOLLOW US ON:
