Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for sanctions against proprietors of Chinese supermarket in Abuja and Lagos State-based Indian school, for racism.
The civil rights advocacy group condemned the Chinese supermarket for allegedly barring Nigerian customers as well as the practice of the Indian school for rejecting Nigerian applicants.
National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, yesterday, cited national security interest as a fundamental principle for no educational institution to operate in Nigeria if Nigerians are not admitted as staff or students.
The group asked the Federal Government to revoke the licence of the Indian Language School should the proprietors fail to immediately halt the discrimination against Nigerians willing to enrol.
It also asked the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to compel the Chinese supermarket to either comply with the relevant laws governing commerce and trade in Nigeria, which prohibits discrimination based on race, ethnicity or gender, or the supermarket be immediately shut down.
The group’s action followed reports of Nigerians being barred from an Indian Language school in Ilupeju, Lagos. Lagos government condemned the development and subsequently ordered a probe.
HURIWA urged the state government to take steps to correct the anomaly and safeguard the national security interest that is endangered if Nigerians are not part of the school operating within our jurisdiction.
The group recalled that the Indian High Commission vowed to sanction the workers at the school, who refused some journalists access to the school facility for inquiries.
It urged the Indian High Commission to practically redress and remedy the discrimination against Nigerians because it is unthinkable that a Nigerians-only school can be permitted to operate in any part of India.