By Henry Umahi
In his latest book titled, ‘The Chinese in the Nigerian economy’, award winning journalist, researcher and publisher, Mr Ikenna Emewu, talked about what he described as the “awesome interest of the world’s manufacturing powerhouse in Nigeria.”
According to him, “in the past 45 years, the volume of Chinese investments in the country has been on a steady rise. Altogether, China has 17 per cent of all its investments by volume and value in Africa located in Nigeria, and 10 per cent of the total number in the continent also in Nigeria, making the country a most preferred destination for several reasons.”
Emewu added that “by all yardsticks of reckoning, China’s presence, impact, and role in the Nigerian economy is a big issue that needs the attention this work accords it.”
In the same vein, the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Ms. Yan Yuqing, said: “China and Nigeria are respectively the largest economies in Asia and Africa. Despite their great distance, we have worked hand in hand for the past over half a century since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.”
Despite the economic bond that has been forged between Nigeria and China, there is another side of the coin. Some bad eggs are fouling the air of cooperation between the two countries.
For the people of Umuahala-Obuzor in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, these are sad times. They are unhappy because their daughter, Miss Ocheze Ogbonna, a crane operator at Inner Galaxy Steel Company in the community, was allegedly killed by her Chinese boss, Mr Gz Zhen.
Confirming the incident, the police public relations officer in the state, Maureen Chinaka, said the command got a report alleging that Zhen had, through his actions, caused the death of the deceased. She added that investigation was ongoing. It was gathered that Ocheze was pushed down from the crane by the Chinese. She was said to have hit her head on a hard object and died. Her crime was that she rejected the man’s love overtures.
Reacting to the development, the member representing Ukwa West and Ukwa East federal constituency, Chris Nkwonta, condemned in strong terms the death of the factory worker, who was said to be an orphan.
Nkwonta’s statement reads: “Miss Ocheze Ogbonna’s death orchestrated by a Chinese expatriate is a gross abuse of the rules of engagement and a total disregard for the sanctity of human life and an affront on their host community, Umuahala-Obuzor, and the peace loving people of Ukwa West Local Government Area.
“This barbaric act, once again, calls to mind the incessant calls by well-meaning Nigerians that the Chinese expatriates operating in Nigeria do not have regard for human lives and must be called to order, immediately, to avert the breakdown of law and order.
“I strongly condemn the dastardly act and brutal killing of late Miss Ocheze Ogbonna by the Chinese expatriate. I call on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Chief of Army Staff, the Abia State Commissioner of Police and the Minister of State, Labour, to ensure that the culprit, who I understand is being shielded by the security agents, is brought to book and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
The killing of Ocheze happened few weeks after it was discovered that a supermarket situated at the China General Chamber of Commerce, along Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Road in Abuja, denied entry to African shoppers.
Security personnel at the gate confirmed that the management of the store gave the directive at the beginning of the year. In reaction, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) sealed off the Chinese supermarket.
Nigeria’s consumer protection watchdog said the supermarket “exclusively permits individuals of Chinese descent to enter.”
Condemning the act, Executive Director, Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF), Dr Salifu Arome, said it was preposterous to imagine that in Nigeria, Nigerians are being discriminated against by Chinese nationals.
He said: “It does not add up by any strand of imagination, and I would advocate government to come very hard on the persons responsible for it. In a system where we are calling for non-discriminatory actions against foreigners and protecting the rights of foreigners, it should be a paradox to think that foreigners on the other side, are even discriminating against their host.
“I think it should be totally condemned. I strongly recommend that those involved should be punished. Of course, the Chinese authorities, including the embassy should be informed on the risk and dangers of undermining the rights of Nigerians as their host.
“We are aware of the abuses of Nigerians in China, and I would expect that that should never be extended to their host country in anywhere they find themselves. I think this is a call to duty for the authorities to really arrest and put it to a permanent end.”
However, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria denied the allegation of discrimination or racism.
In March, the Kano State High Court sentenced a Chinese national, Frank Geng-Quangrong, 49, to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Ummu Kalthuum Sani, 22, in September 2022. He stabbed her several times in her room.
After judgment was delivered, the victim’s brother, Sadiq Sani, said: “We thank God for showing us this day. I pray that my sister’s soul continues to rest in peace.” It was gathered that Quarong and Ms Sani had been in a relationship since 2020 after they met in a shopping mall. A source disclosed that on the night Quarong killed Ms Sani, he was heard knocking furiously on the gate to the Sani family home and later forced himself into her room.
“When Ms Sani’s mother opened the gate, Quarong pushed her aside and rushed straight to Ms Sani’s room, locking it from inside.
“Her shouts and cries attracted the family and before anyone could break down the door to help, she had been stabbed several times. And the girl died.”
Quarong, however, claimed that he stabbed his girlfriend in self-defence after she allegedly grabbed his testes. He said: “I didn’t kill Ummul Khulsum intentionally but stabbed her in self-defence after she grabbed my testes.”
However, a source alleged that he killed her because she refused to marry him after “making heavy investments” on her.
The operations of some Chinese-owned companies in Nigeria have been characterized by poor welfare, neglect and maltreatment of Nigerian workers, even as many have died as a result. They operate contrary to labour laws and in most cases their atrocities are overlooked. Indeed, local workers are treated like slaves. They are subjected to abuse, forced labour and low wages. And the government keeps watching, doing little or nothing. Someone said that the Chinese are mistreating Nigerians because of the West African’s indebtedness to their country.
Few weeks ago, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission disclosed that it had secured the conviction of two Chinese nationals, Duan Ya Hong and Xiao Yi, for their involvement in illegal mining in Kwara State.
The EFCC, in a statement made available on its Facebook page, disclosed that the convicts were first arraigned on April 22, 2024 alongside their company, Ebuy Concept Limited, on one count bordering on illegal mining before a Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
The anti-graft agency stated that following the arraignment of Hong and Yi, they pleaded not guilty to their offence and were granted bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties each. The statement read in part: “The lone-count charge reads: That you, Ebuy Trading Worldwide Nig. LTD, Duan Ya Hong, and Xiao Yi, sometime in February 2024, at Banni, in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, without lawful authority, purchased minerals to wit; 30 tons of minerals conveyed in a Truck, with Registration Number JJJ 386 XT and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 1984.”
“They pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
“Consequently, they were granted bail of N5 million with two sureties each in like sum. In addition, the court ordered that they be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the perfection of their bail conditions. Thereafter, the case was adjourned to Tuesday, May 14, 2024, for trial.”
The statement stated further that following a second hearing, Hong and Yi reversed their plea and admitted to being guilty of illegal mining.
Following their guilty plea, Justice Anyadike found the defendants guilty and sentenced them to one-year imprisonment each with an option of N2m and N1.5m fine respectively.
The EFCC stated: “The defendants, represented by I.A. Ahmed, did not object to the admissibility of the exhibits tendered by the prosecution; hence, they were admitted in evidence by the court.
“Delivering judgment, Justice Anyadike held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and pronounced them guilty as charged.
“Consequently, the judge sentenced Hong to one-year imprisonment with an option of fine of N2 million, while Yi, on the other hand, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment with an option of N1.5m.”
The court also ordered that the 30 tons of minerals and the truck conveying the minerals be forfeited.
Similarly, in July 2023, operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC arrested 13 Chinese nationals over offences bordering on illegal mining activities in the state. The offence, according to the anti-graft agency, contravened Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983.
The suspects, according to the spokesman of the agency, comprised a female and 12 males. Also, some Chinese men in Nigeria recklessly sow wild oats after which they abandon the children they sired. The video of a particular woman from Ogun State, Tope Samuel, went viral in the social media. She narrated how her Chinese boyfriend abandoned her after she was delivered of their mixed-race child. In an interview with a newspaper, she narrated how she met the Chinese in a company where they worked together and how they started dating.
She said that her Chinese boyfriend’s attitude towards her changed one month after she was delivered of the baby.
In some poor communities like Ajegunle in Lagos, mixed-race children are all over the place.
