“For una Papa’s land abi?” – Wike’s Aide Lere Olayinka Tackles Igbo Traders Over Chinese Protest

• Lere Olayinka, an aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has criticised traders protesting against Chinese nationals engaging in retail business at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex.
• Olayinka questioned why Nigerian traders could operate in Lagos while objecting to Chinese traders doing business in the same city.

Lere Olayinka, an aide to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, has criticised traders who protested against Chinese nationals engaging in retail business at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex.

Olayinka reacted to the protest in a post on X, questioning the basis for Nigerian traders asking Chinese businesses to leave the market.

The protest, which took place at the Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, was linked to complaints that Chinese businesses were selling directly to consumers at cheaper prices and taking customers away from Nigerian retailers.

The protest was triggered by complaints from traders that Chinese nationals had allegedly expanded from wholesale operations into direct retail, putting local retailers under pressure because of their access to manufacturers and cheaper supply chains. The protesters maintained that they were not calling for attacks on Chinese nationals or their businesses.

In his reaction, Olayinka wrote:

“Una come Lagos come trade.
Chinese people too come Lagos come trade.
Una dey protest say make Chinese people leave market for una.
For una Papa’s land abi?

Una head no correct… Ori yin o pe!”

His comments have since generated reactions on social media, with some users questioning whether the protest should be viewed as an ethnic issue, while others argued that the traders were specifically objecting to Chinese nationals entering the retail side of the market.

@sooolozz: So they are not Nigerians or what? Why not then divide the country? So everyone can be on there own?

@onye.italo: LAGOS is no man’s land It belongs to all Nigerians until Break up

@Chukwuemeka Chinweoke: This might just be the move that will settle everything, ana watchia

@Vs Digital Hub: Ndi mgbu. No more reaping Nigerians with the excuse of shipping cost.

@Engr Abrunael Iseghohimen: There should be a govt body or union that control the price of goods that market.

@Collins Bunde: Nigeria no be their fatherland? Abi Lagos dey Ghana?😅👀

@faroye: The mad people 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@Ijeoma Ebere: The day igbos start doing me not us in this Nigeria we igbos wont be facing this insult. SAs sent Africans away. Yorubas want Chinese

Simple.

@Emily Chinedu: Chinese people abeg unah fit reach onitcha..

Abeg doo. We need you people there 🙏..

@Okafor Chinelo: Dis my ppl self? E don reach our body again? The sky is too big for everyone na?

Fear, no let me talk again!!!