Some traders at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, on Monday protested the alleged expansion of Chinese merchants into retail trading in the market.
The traders expressed concern that the development could threaten local businesses and displace Nigerian traders.
The protest was later suspended following interventions by the Traders Association, local government officials and the police.
The Secretary of the Traders Association, Juventus Okpala-Okaka, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday that the association had received complaints from youths over the activities of Chinese merchants.
He said the association had constituted a committee to investigate the complaints.
“We heard their complaint and decided to set up a committee that would look into it,” he said.
According to him, representatives of the protesters were invited to meet with the association’s president, who appealed to them to suspend the protest pending the committee’s findings.
He said the protesters were also asked to nominate 30 to 50 representatives to work with the committee and association executives.
Okpala-Okaka said a meeting was held on Tuesday, adding that significant progress had been made towards resolving the dispute.
“Everything was gradually resolved,” he said.
He added that the local government chairman and police area commander later visited the complex and were briefed on the situation.
“Things have been resolved,” he said.
Videos circulating on social media showed protesters carrying placards with inscriptions including, “Chinese must go” and “This is a peaceful protest.”
In a Facebook post, Martin Nworah said local traders were concerned that Chinese manufacturers and wholesalers were bypassing traditional supply chains by selling directly to consumers.
He said such practices could affect Nigerian middlemen and retailers, urging stakeholders to consider collaboration and manufacturing.
“Protests will not solve economic problems because buyers will always seek out the best prices they can get,” Nworah said.
In a separate video shared by social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, a trader alleged that Chinese merchants were increasingly taking over businesses traditionally operated by Nigerians.
“What we are saying is that the personal relationship between us and the Chinese is important to us, but they should not do our business,” the trader said.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer in another video shared by Jubril Gawat, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on New Media, described the protesters as “disgruntled fellows” and said arrests would be made.
“This is just the handiwork of a few disgruntled fellows in the market,” he said.
