Cold war at Trade Fair Complex

A quiet war is brewing between footwear traders at the Trade Fair Complex and some Chinese residents in Nigeria over alleged importation of shoes into the country.
The cold war culminated into a massive protest by Nigerian traders recently. They were protesting activities of the Chinese, which they said were inimical to the economic wellbeing of the country.
The footwear traders accused the Chinese of violating all sorts of import and immigration regulations in Nigeria.
The traders are alleging that Chinese citizens, who have been importing shoes into the country before the ban on the importation of shoes have continued unabated in the market, thereby blocking the sale of locally manufactured shoes.
The traders, who deal in locally manufactured shoes and some sports shoes, said that by their acts, the Chinese traders were flouting the country’s laws on the importation of shoes listed as banned items on the list of import prohibition published by the Nigerian Customs and Excise Department.
The traders called on officials of the Customs and Excise Department and the Immigration Service to look into activities of the Chinese indigenes.
Efforts to get some of the Chinese businessmen to respond to the allegations were unfruitful. Those approached by the reporter declined comments.
One of the many sins of these Chinese, according to the traders, was that the former flooded the market with footwear termed to be contraband; thereby preventing the traders from selling locally manufactured shoes and sandals.
Said the traders: “We strive to keep to the laws as regards importation of shoes but surprisingly, since we moved into the Trade Fair Complex, these Chinese men, who were on the Lagos Island, moved in here and started importing shoes and also now took stalls to sell to end users.
“All we are asking from government is protection. If there is a law instituted by government, that law should be respected by Nigerians and foreigners alike. What we see here is flagrant violation of the laws on the importation of footwear through the connivance of some unpatriotic Nigerians.”
Indeed, Serial 20 on the import prohibition list of the Nigerian Customs and Excise Department listed among the banned items all types of footwear and bags, excluding safety shoes used in oil industries, sports shoes and canvass shoes.
“This is the law that governs shoe business in this country but unfortunately, some Nigerians are conniving with these foreigners to flout the law and shortchange the country,” they added.
They alleged that in 2007 when the Federal Government placed a ban on the importation of footwear in order to encourage local manufacturers, the Chinese continued the importation despite the ban.
The traders explained that it was even when that ban was placed that the Chinese indigenes, who usually come into the country with visiting visas, continued the importation in excess, flouting both immigration and the country’s law on importation of footwear.
The traders alleged that the Chinese, apart from importing items termed to be contraband into the country, connived with some banks and individuals to open accounts that would facilitate importation of these items.
They explained that these Chinese knew what the law says, concerning visitors to the country and owning a bank account but they have deliberately decided to violate the law, conniving with some unscrupulous Nigerians to do so.
For instance, they said that the Chinese connived with some Nigerians who assist them to obtain resident permit suspected to be fake, with which they open bank accounts to facilitate the importation of footwear from China.
They complained that the attitude of the Chinese men frustrated local manufacturers and also puts the economy in jeopardy, as local industries are shut down while the youths are thrown into the unemployment market.
A dealer in footwear at the market, Adeniyi Adekoya, told Daily Sun: “These actions by these foreigners are painful as they destroy the local market and do not add anything to the economy of the country.”
“What they do is make money here and move the money to their country. They do not add to economy of the country. They do not assist us to fight unemployment through the creation of industries. They are just like parasites.”
While making reference to the actions of the Chinese in the textile market in Nigeria, Adekoya said some Chinese businessmen were recently arrested for being behind the massive illegal importation of textiles in Kano. “The situation is not different in the footwear business in Nigeria,” he said.
The same story was told by Okechukwu Ifeatu, who also trades in shoes at the Trade Fair Complex. Said he: “It is sad that what you cannot do in China, these Chinese find it easy to achieve here. In their country, when you flout government law, they do not waste time to throw you into prison and when you are out, you face deportation.
“Surprisingly, here, they enjoy all the privileges enjoyed by the citizens and sometimes even more. They violate our laws at will and also bribe the law enforcement agents to have their way.”
He lamented that some Nigerians assisted these foreigners to get fake resident permits. “Even some bank officials, because of the money the Chinese will deposit in their banks and what they will make for themselves, connive with them to obtain fake resident permit with which they open account for them.”
A lawyer, Sadique Mallam, told Daily Sun that it was regrettable that there was no enforcement of laws in the country. He urged the government to investigate the allegation by the traders and apply the necessary sanction to persons who might have violated the law.
“The laws are there. If you go to the Nigerian Customs website, you will find on the import prohibition list number 20 explanations on the type of shoes not prohibited and the type not to be imported into the country. The essence is to encourage local manufacturers of shoes and also ensure job creation. But all these are not applied and it encourages people to flout the laws,” he said.
Quoting Immigration law in Nigeria, the lawyer told Daily Sun that the immigration laws was governed by the Immigration Act, CAP I1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“It provides the legal and regulatory framework for the entry and departure of persons into or out of Nigeria, usually for economic and social reasons. The Immigration Act provides that persons entering or leaving Nigeria, are required to be examined by an Immigration Officer, who may, on the information provided, refuse admission to any non-Nigerian citizen in any proper case.
“The Minister of Interior is by the law authorised to prescribe the conditions for entry into Nigeria and the fees payable in respect of such authorised entry, that is, visa, permit or any such travel document.”
He said that the law also provided for any person in Nigeria desirous of employing an immigrant, explaining that such a person shall apply to the Director of Immigration for permission for the immigrant to come to Nigeria to resume such employment.