Organised private sector leaders and economists asked the Federal Government to bar foreign nationals from last-mile retail trading. They issued the call after local traders protested last week at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex. The protesters objected to Chinese nationals selling directly to consumers.
President of the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria Dr Femi Egbesola said the country must not sacrifice its small businesses for trade liberalisation.
He stated, “I can see that the trade liberalisation document, also spearheaded by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, allows foreigners to trade without barriers. But the question is, are we going to support foreigners at the expense of our own Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, our own business owners? That shouldn’t be.”
Egbesola added that foreigners should stay out of last-mile retail. “Be it Chinese or any other foreigner should not be part of our retail to the last mile. It is not right. Governments and every other key stakeholder must be ready to protect that very delicate segment of the society, which is the small and micro businesses,” he said. He noted that many foreign traders skipped required business permits and legal processes.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise Dr Muda Yusuf argued that Nigeria holds enough capacity in retail. He said the space should remain for citizens and possibly other Africans.
“I don’t think it is fair for the Chinese, who are supposed to be wholesalers or manufacturers selling to our people, to come down to the market to compete with the very people who are supposed to be their distributors,” Yusuf stated. He suggested foreigners limit themselves to supermarket-level retail.
President of the Nigeria-China Investment Club Dr Chidi Uleli linked the trend to globalisation. He said more than 40 per cent of Nigeria’s imports now come from China. Uleli urged local traders to form cooperatives and set up cottage industries instead of seeking bans.
In addition, President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Leye Kupoluyi called for dialogue. He said the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission should examine the issues to protect consumers. Kupoluyi opposed street protests and offered the chamber as a mediator.
Director of the African Retail Academy at Lagos Business School Prof Uchenna Uzo said market associations should negotiate fair practices with manufacturers. He stressed the need for a national retail policy framework to reduce conflicts.
