Lagos Traders Protest Over Chinese Merchants’ Expansion Into Retail Trading, Later Suspend Action

Some traders at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway protested on Monday against the alleged expansion of Chinese merchants into retail trading, fearing it could threaten local businesses and displace Nigerian traders. The protest was later suspended following interventions by the Traders Association leadership, local government officials and the police.

Traders Association Secretary Juventus Okpala-Okaka said the association had already set up a committee to investigate youths’ complaints against Chinese merchants before the protest began, and subsequently invited protester representatives to a meeting where the association’s president appealed for the action to be suspended. He said a Tuesday meeting involving the committee, protester representatives and market executives made significant progress toward resolving the dispute, and that the local government chairman and police area commander later visited the complex to assess the situation, helping to resolve the matter further.

Facebook commentator Martin Nworah explained that local traders fear Chinese manufacturers and wholesalers are bypassing traditional supply chains by selling directly to consumers at wholesale prices, undercutting Nigerian middlemen who cannot match their access to cheap credit and imports. He urged traders to pursue partnerships and manufacturing rather than protests, arguing collaboration would work better than confrontation since most goods are sourced from China anyway.

In videos shared online, protesters carrying placards reading “Chinese must go” alleged Chinese merchants were taking over retail sales traditionally reserved for Nigerians, with one trader warning shops could be lost within five to six years if the trend continues. An unidentified senior police officer, in a video shared by Lagos government aide Jubril Gawat, described the protesters as “disgruntled fellows” and said arrests would be made, though this could not be independently verified. Social media reactions were divided, with some calling for fair market access for foreign traders under Nigerian law, while others urged dialogue over hostility, cautioning against actions that could invite reprisals against Nigerians abroad.