Lagos State Government on Wednesday reacted to the trending reports of an alleged racist Chinese restaurant in Ikeja area in the state.
A Chinese restaurant Shishi on Emina crescent has been accused of declaring that it was not opened to Nigerians.
The restaurant is also alleged to sell its products to Nigerians only when they are accompanied by a Chinese.
Reacting, the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture stated that it had set up a fact-finding team to investigate the report.
In a statement, the Commissioner in the ministry, Steve Ayorinde, said: “Following the social media posts on Monday about the allegation that a certain Chinese restaurant in Ikeja is engaged in racial discrimination against potential Nigerian customers, our officers were sent to investigate the veracity of the claim.
“The two officers who went there on Monday did so incognito and found the allegations to be false. The officers were served without any questions or discrimination. They also took photographs without being noticed.
“Our officers also observed that the restaurant had a number of Nigerians working inside there and did similarly observe that pepper soup, a Nigerian delicacy is also on the menu.
“More, importantly, the restaurant has been registered with the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture since 2016 as required by law.
“As the regulators of eateries, restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality facilities in Lagos State, the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Tourism will further investigate this claim, beyond what our findings on Monday revealed and will be vigilant about the activities of this restaurant and its subsidiary”.
