Lagos Police Call Trade Fair Protest Minor Misconduct

The Lagos State Police Command characterized the protest by traders at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex regarding the activities of Chinese retailers as the actions of a few "miscreants" and "disgruntled fellows." During a briefing on Tuesday, ACP Chike Oti reassured Nigerians and foreign investors of the peaceful state of the complex, stating that those involved in the protest had been cautioned and would face arrest. The protest arose from complaints by Nigerian traders about Chinese nationals allegedly engaging in retail sales, which they claimed undermined local businesses due to their ability to import goods directly from China.

Protesters displayed placards demanding that Chinese vendors cease retail trading. Nnamdi Ngozi Emechebe, President of ASPMDA, described the protest as minor and quickly controlled, emphasizing that the market leadership had convened to address the issues.

Prince Lanre Sanusi, the chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, confirmed that security agencies were present to assess the situation and noted that there was no conflict between Nigerian and Chinese traders.