The spectre of racism in Nigeria

It was only when the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) clamped on the Chinese supermarket in Abuja alleged to be barring Nigerians from patronising it that the unpleasant spectre of racism loomed large over the country. The shutdown of the supermarket was a result of an outcry in the media over their discriminatory policy of exclusively serving Chinese nationals in the supermarket.

The owner of the supermarket, Mrs Liu Bei, denied the discriminatory practice saying that the supermarket is a small grocery shop aimed at meeting the needs of her local community. Nevertheless, discrimination in any form galls. It is worse when it is based on race. The Chinese and the black race should be on the same page on matters of racism as we have always collectively suffered the indignities of racial discrimination from white folks.

Many of us who have lived in Europe and the Americas, over 40 years ago, would relate horror stories of overt racial discrimination practices in those lands. I lived in Swansea, UK, in the late 1970s and early 80s, and for the years I was there I couldn’t get a flat to rent and had to contend with university accommodation. I was newly married and needed a more suitable accommodation. Whenever I spotted an advertisement for a vacant flat in the evening paper, I rushed to present myself, and I always got the same reply, ‘Oh it has just been taken’. This reply became a familiar refrain. I had to draw the inevitable conclusion that I was being denied because of my race.

Racism against black people, in particular, is a historical phenomenon practised by and was widespread among white folks in Europe and the Americas, obviously a concomitant of slavery and colonial subjugation. Somehow even during the hundred years of British colonial rule, Nigerians were spared the institutionalised racism that was prevalent in places like South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. This is probably why we are slow to act on matters of racial provocation. This is not to say that the British were not racist here. There were racial discrimination practices as pertained to employment, housing and hotel accommodation here and there. It was said that some hospitals funded by the government were reserved for only Europeans.

Some clubs such as Ikoyi Club, did not admit Nigerian members. Some hotels also did not accommodate black people. In all parts of the country, the British colonialists created European Reservation Areas where only their kind lived. Up North, the housing discriminatory acts were not an issue because the white officials were not overtly visible. They ruled by proxy, a la indirect rule, through the emirs and chiefs. It was in the South, particularly in Lagos where direct colonial rule had rooted itself since the mid-19th Century, that some of these racist practices were contested by Nigerians.

Many Nigerians of a certain age would readily recall the 1947 racial discrimination incident that occurred at Hotel Bristol, Lagos. Ivor Cummings, a Sierra-Leonean who was an official of the Colonial Office, visited Lagos in April 1947 and was denied accommodation at the Bristol Hotel owned by a Greek, even though the Nigerian government had arranged to have him stay there. Hotel Bristol was one of the top hotels of that era. The name Cummings befuddled the hotel owners who thought that he was a white man. However, when he presented himself at the reception and they realised he was black they refused to entertain him.

This caused quite an uproar, particularly among the Lagos elite who had started to challenge the colonial government on sundry matters. The elite quickly mobilised the burgeoning political associations and the labour unions. The hotel was attacked and ransacked. The colonial government saw the writing on the wall making the Governor-General, Sir Authur Richards, to hold a meeting with representatives of the Lagos elite. After the meeting, the governor-general issued wide-ranging measures effectively removing all aspects of overt racism. European hospitals and clubs were renamed and became accessible to Nigerians.

The European Hospital in Lagos (now Military Hospital) and European Club at Ikoyi were renamed Creek Hospital and Ikoyi Club respectively. The European hospital at Warri was changed to Maple Annex. The European Hospital at Ibadan was changed to Jericho Nursing Home. Areas throughout the country otherwise known as European Reservations were renamed Government Reserve Areas (GRA). It is remarkable that this singular protest caused the colonial government to make those sweeping changes in its policy.

We hope the swift action taken by the FCCPC will not only stop at shutting down the Chinese supermarket. They should also be made to face the laws of the land. Furthermore, the FCCPC should also beam its searchlight to all those nooks and corners where these kinds of despicable acts of racism take place. Already there are reports of an Indian school in Ilupeju, Lagos, where for years Nigerian children have been denied admission. The issue has gone viral and the FCCPC must investigate it to stamp out these unholy practices in our land. Racism should have no place here.