The Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board has moved to address growing concerns between Nigerian traders and Chinese businesses operating within the complex, calling for calm and dialogue to prevent the dispute from escalating.
The board’s intervention follows complaints from Nigerian traders, particularly members of the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA), over the activities of Chinese retailers at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
Some Nigerian traders have alleged that Chinese businesses that traditionally operated as wholesalers are increasingly selling directly to consumers. They argue that the practice is putting local retailers under pressure because Chinese businesses can source goods directly from manufacturers and suppliers in China.
The complaints recently led to a protest at the complex, where some traders called for restrictions on Chinese participation in retail activities. The protesters said cheaper prices offered by some Chinese operators were making it difficult for Nigerian retailers to retain customers.
The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board, Veronica Safiya Ndanusa, said the concerns surrounding competition, market access and regulatory compliance deserved attention.
She said the board was engaging relevant stakeholders to find a lasting solution while ensuring that commercial activities at the complex remain lawful and orderly.
Ndanusa stressed that protecting Nigerian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises does not have to conflict with attracting legitimate foreign investment. She said both objectives could be pursued simultaneously as part of Nigeria’s broader economic development strategy.
The board also assured foreign investors and international businesses operating within the complex that comply with Nigerian laws that their investments, property and physical safety would be protected.
The development comes after Nigerian traders expressed concern that direct retail operations by some Chinese businesses could undermine established distribution networks. The traders have maintained that their objection is to the nature of the commercial activities rather than to Chinese nationals themselves.
Authorities have urged all parties to avoid actions that could disrupt peace within the market. Security officials previously said the situation at the complex had been brought under control following the protest, while representatives of the Chinese business community maintained that they were continuing their activities peacefully.
The dispute has placed renewed attention on the balance between foreign investment, competition and the protection of domestic businesses in Nigeria’s retail sector.
For the Trade Fair Complex, the immediate priority is to keep the market open while bringing the affected groups together to clarify the rules governing wholesale and retail activities and ensure that businesses operate within existing regulations.
The board said consultations with stakeholders would continue as it works towards a sustainable framework capable of accommodating both Nigerian traders and legitimate foreign businesses operating at the complex.
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