Between Importation and Manufacturing: What Future for Aba Traders as the Chinese Move In?: A Facebook Debate
Oluwatoyin Adepoju
Between Importation and Manufacturing
What Future for Aba Traders as the Chinese Move In?
A Facebook Debate
Abstract
by
Claude AI
The recent establishment of Chinese trading operations on the upper floors of Ariaria International Market in Aba, Nigeria, marks a significant inflection point in the decades-long commercial relationship between Igbo traders and Chinese manufacturers.
The lead essay and the discussion it inspires examines the structural
implications of this shift — from Nigerian traders travelling to China to source
goods, to Chinese traders establishing direct distribution points within
Nigeria's most iconic informal market.
The essay and discussion analyze how supply chain compression is reshaping the
traditional middleman economy that has defined Aba's commercial identity.
The discussion surfaces three competing frameworks: protectionism (restricting foreign retail access to preserve local trade), symbiosis (leveraging Chinese proximity for partnership, white-labeling, and technology transfer), and evolution (transitioning from import arbitrage to local manufacturing and brand ownership).
Responses reveal deep anxieties about capital flight, unfair competition, and the absence of government policy buffers — alongside cautious optimism about falling commodity prices, potential job creation, and the possibility of manufacturing clusters emerging under improved power infrastructure. We argue that Aba's trajectory will be determined less by the Chinese presence itself than by whether local entrepreneurs, policymakers, and trade associations can coordinate a strategic pivot from distribution to value creation. Ariaria, long a barometer of Nigeria's informal economy, now serves as a microcosm of the broader Global South's confrontation with Chinese commercial expansion — and the hard question of whether resilience alone is sufficient without deliberate industrial policy.
Same essay, two posts by Emmanuel Eze, and Onyeka Michael, the writer and who reposted it
The
Chinese learned to make goods in their factories. The Aba traders learned to
move those goods across oceans. Now the factories are moving next door, and the
movers are wondering: 'What's our next job?' 
"Some
traders at Ariaria international market Aba are not happy the Chinese insists
on taking the entire top floors of the market building from the developers. The
Chinese are coming to sample or trade their goods and services at affordable
prices, same price importers from Igboland go to buy in china before brining to
Nigeria. From electric bikes, to electronics, clothes, jeans, kitchen utensils,
paints etc. This has sent fears amongst some traders who couldn't withstand the
competition from Chinese. We are watching to see the advantage and disadvantage
of this new trading pattern in Aba and Africa at large.
" ~ WIM
They spent decades bringing China to Aba.
Now China has brought Aba to its own doorstep. The middleman's floor just became the landlord's spare room.
Ariaria market is witnessing the future of global trade compression. The distance between producer and consumer is shrinking, and the middle spaces... the spaces where Aba's traders built empires... are being squeezed out.
This is not a disaster; it is a forced evolution. The traders who survive will be those who stop asking 'How do I stop the Chinese?' and start asking 'What can I do that the Chinese cannot?' The answer lies not in protectionism, but in upgrading: from trader to manufacturer, from importer to brand owner, from middleman to creator.
The Chinese are not just bringing goods; they are bringing a mirror. The reflection in it will show either the fading image of a bygone trading era, or the first glimpse of a new, more robust Nigerian commercial identity.
We are watching, indeed. The question is: are the traders watching with fear, or with a plan?
The Chinese didn't just bring goods to Aba.
They brought the entire supply chain and parked it on the top floor.
The
traders below are now looking up at their own replacement or reinvention. 
Ariaria is now a microcosm of the global economic realignment. The Chinese arrival is not a threat; it is a test. A test of whether Aba's legendary entrepreneurial spirit can evolve from arbitrage (buy low here, sell high there) to creation (make something new here).
Responses
Author
The advantage is wider, from selling,they will start to assemble some of their products here, they will start sewing clothes/fabrics,. There will be so many jobs created, many African countries will be shopping from ABA, all roads will lead to Aba, prices of most commodities will drop, Abịa State IGR will increase. ~ Okey Argu
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Emmanuel Eze it is the duty of the government to protect the trade of its citizens, but anything to cripple igbo economy is welcomed in Nigeria
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Emmanuel Eze God bless you.
This is the time for Aba traders to partner with the Chinese and set up manufacturing clusters in Aba and umuahia. I have been saying this for years that our business men need to evolve from buying and selling into manufacturing.
It is long over due, if they do not evolve, Chinese will push them out of the market.
They need to pivot immediately. All the importers need to start thinking on how to properly structure their business.
Importation is no longer sustainable.
They need to create structured companies, partner with the Chinese and set up manufacturing clusters.
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Story. The Chinese will pay import taxes just like the Aba traders and they will pay government taxes without grumbling. Our people are not afraid of competition.
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Chinese will start manufacturing some gadgets here in Aba to reduce import expenses.
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Princewill Chikwendu they will still need to import the parts needed to produce. We may not have the required raw materials needed here.
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Peter Okocha Orji have you heard of import weavers for manufacturing of certain goods before?
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David Ugah Lawrence LoL especially for foreign own companies
No condition is permanent. As China evolves, I see more Chinese manufacturers setting up fully in Nigeria due to lower wages. I have seen our local billionaire traders engage in importation for decades, but still refuse to set up manufacturing activities locally, for the same goods . If you refuse to evolve, you will be left behind
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This is what happened in the nollywood,the guys who made money from selling videos/CDs didn't reinvest in the business,then Netflix came and that whole cartel fell.
For a number of the big importers who brought goods from China,they should have been the ones to bring the Chinese guy's for partnership but they complained of so many things: lack of electricity,etc. They were more comfortable in the slogan-container dey high sea but alas -the bushmeat is now chasing the hunters.
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Tanimomo 'Dare God don catch them... they will learn big time. its better for them to also start importing the machineries and larn to use them to manufacture their own or else... get kicked out of their own markets!
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Tanimomo 'Dare The container doesn't need the high seas again, as the power Otti has stabilized is attracting the factories. Trading must necessarily evolve into manufacturing or else vdm will have the last laugh while others cry.
It will be interesting to watch how this plays out. I've never known my people to chicken out of any fight.
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Nkemjika Uwaezuoke It should be a competition. Rather, the old Aba merchants should think out of the box and find the best ways to collaborate with them by insisting on stakes in those coys. The Abia government can create a win-win ecosystem for d 2 sides. The value chain is enormous. It can be a very healthy relationship.
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Ogunsola Sulaiman Osilo thank you omoba
All it would take to fix this is an executive order acting on a recommendation of the National Economic Team. China or any other country won't simply let you start retail trading. There are rules for a reason.
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Hmmm. That's heavy competition but the government should insist on a technical partnership and distribution agreements with the Chinese. Set up your factories here, employ the locals and allow them to be middle men.The locals would learn manufacturing, supply chain etc from the Asians.
Secondly, the locals should start thinking about opening up trading companies instead of using the one man business model for distribution
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Story. There is no market in Nigeria that the Chinese have successfully taken over , I remember sometime in 2010-2011 that China steel doors were coming to the market for the first time and the Chinese came and set up massive warehouses for importing that same China door at China town in Lagos. Igbo traders gave them a run for their money and crashed the price of the doors, the Chinese began to sell at a loss until at a point they ran away. Same thing with inverter batteries and solar systems, same thing with spare parts . There is nothing you can do to disenfranchise our people in our own markets, they will show you that they love competition more than their lives and they are willing to sell at a loss for complete one year and see if you can keep up. Fear Igbos for petty trading oo.
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In other climes, the Chinese would be made to open their factory in Aba and not a distribution channel. That way its a win win, jobs, taxes, transfer of Knowledge and wider market reach
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Nwaokwah Maryrose Precisely! Asian countries like Indonesia made sure any chinese ,or foreign company had agreements that would seek both knowledge,and wealth transfer for its populace.
White Label is the way out. Build a strong brand name that the Chinese will be forced to use your brand name to sell their products on White Label partnership. Note: they have the product but don't have the brand, culture and many of them don't understand English which makes them extremely dependent on locals.
Author
Kelvin
C. Nwaigwe This is soooo apt 
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Emmanuel Eze I just gave you a million dollar insight from my experience with them on my Solar business. They come pleading for partnership.
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Author
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Kelvin C. Nwaigwe Chinese that manufacture cassava to garri processing machines, will English be their problem, they will even begin speaking Igbo more fluently than our jappa crazy people. Don't play or you will lurn the hard way.
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ABA has always been a creator of good and services. That is why it is called the Japan of Africa. Watch what is going to happen. In this scenario you painted, what the Chinese has done is to make it a lot easier for ABA to copy whatever technology they are deploying. ABA knows how to rebound. Watch and see.
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Author
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The best I advice is this,the importers should go into the hinter land states and country like Cameron,Benin Republic to start marketing the Chinese products as they know the route better,buy from Chinese and create artificial scarcity,but high business secret must be accorded.If ur interested DM let me teach you African economics of artificial scarcity.
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We can still go to China upstairs,
Import it to Ariara downstairs, and still make our profit..
Its all about middlemanship..
We can still arrange and buy off their ship load, store them away from the market to create an artificial scarcity.. Then come back to sell at a profit..
If them come think they too wise,
We may decide to kill their business entirely by demarketing their product, go to Venezuela, bring their products and start promoting it..
China go now bend down to see Aba.
Anyị nwere ya.
Ọwụ ya ka ọwụọ ya ?
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Ejike Patrick Okoye unfortunately that your final point is not possible
China has entered market that they don't have any other competitor
I agree with your other points though
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For years, there has been the strong debates and arguments that Igbo importers need to move from importing cheap products to local manufacturing, by starting off with light manufacturing and reverse engineering which would grow into full-scale self-sustaining concerns. Only few took the gauntlet. Only those few will wade through this evolution of Chinese intrusion. Innoson and Stanel, for example, with diversified businesses will not only be covered by key FG policies, but will also get grants and interventions to keep them running. The Chinese are not here to play, they now have shops in Lagos island, bringing in their own goods directly into the country and selling cheaper. Nigeria has now become on of the hubs in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with its $20bn Ogidigben Gas project. Expect more Chinese manufacturers to come here and seize the opportunities of cheap local manufacturing backed-up with cheap gas for production. They will also open shops - warehouse and retail, squeezing the trade and commerce sector even further. A word is enough for the wise.
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Author
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Electric bike is 500 to 600k in china, person get mind dey sale 1.5M abeg make Chinese cum first.
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The state government should their stay with condition that after 10 years it's expected that they set up factories and produce some of the goods locally
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The government should negotiate with the chinese and they should also make sure they build industries and companies here since Aba now has stable power supply.
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It's very simple
Absolute distributorship right. Force them to sell to you as a major distributor. Because they want money and turnover. While you retail at a margin. Whoever controls the supply chain controls the market. China is highly competitive. Once you lock them in that's all. Every business man must evolve in hard times that's why it is called Entrepreneurship
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Godfrey Chinedu Obeche my sentiments too. However, the Abia state government should guide in framing such symbiotic experience. The potentials are enormous. The Chinese wouldn't need to worry about distributorship with Abians right there. I see the multiplier effects this will create in the state's economy and consequently for the country.
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Godfrey Chinedu Obeche you got it
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Godfrey Chinedu Obeche the will agree and overtime they will do just the way they usually do by giving multiple people license
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Emmanuel Eze do you own a business?
Have you actively experienced the impact of China Market Dumping?
First no Chinese will come to setup a production unit here when incentives to export from their home country exceeds the making it here in Nigeria.
First before you make a comment or take a stand try and have a conversation with people in Alaba, Tradefair and other market in Lagos that has experience firsthand impact of Chinese market dumping.
They approach is extractive driven not impact; the idea of setting up stores here is anchored on greedy and control.
Ask questions before stating what is not true.
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Author
Thank you for the perspective. I don’t claim to speak from every corner of Lagos’ markets, but the story in Aba is not a hypothetical. I’ve watched decades of trade patterns evolve, and Aba’s traders themselves have been the narrators of this change: first, bringing China to Aba; now, China setting up shop near their supply lines.
You’re right, there are complexities. Not every Chinese trader is “building a factory next door” in the literal sense, and incentives matter. But markets are rarely static. What fascinates me is not whether a factory is literally built here, but the way global supply chains compress opportunity: arbitrage becomes harder, margins tighter, and middle spaces, those that built fortunes on buying low and selling high, are tested.
The point is not to simplify the narrative into “good vs. bad Chinese.” It’s that Aba is now a mirror. Traders must ask: how do I survive when the old ways are squeezed? How do I create value that no one else can replicate? That’s the story worth telling, and it’s playing out in real-time.
I appreciate your challenge. It’s a reminder that commentary should meet lived experience, and I hope the conversation continues with voices from Alaba, Tradefair, and Aba itself. That’s how we sharpen ideas, not just repeat assumptions.
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Emmanuel Eze First is to increase incentives for manufacturers; most of importers who are actively into importing from China can setup Assembling and manufacturing plants if there's incentives that favours it. In case of Aba I would have be happier if the case is that Chinese are taking up space in Free Trade zone rather in the market. So, government should build more free trade zones which provides an ecosystem for real sector. Also, I wouldn't care If they are setting up proper modern retailing businesses; I won't care because it have direct impact on local economy. It creates real job and revenue for government. But you see them trying to operate within our informal markets with informal structure is a big threat to our local economy and it will further increase unemployment especially for Igbos that their only fallback is informal retailing.
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Let them sit down and plan to work with each other,,, I know of a place in Dubai you can't buy some certain quantities from them they'll send you to there lower hole sellers,,,just sit down with and plan it hence it works elsewhere it can still work in Aba...
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These are more are the issues and challenges that the country would be facing, when government signs kinds of agreements without thinking of the effect on it's own people and economy, Aba should have focused on production rather than middlemanship, they have to redesign the business model and value prepositions to be relevant, and it would cut across every sector, they are only testing the waters with this, after which they would be inviting their brothers
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You got it right. College of imitation to college of original. That's the way to go. No need for degrees.
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Charles Awuzie please sir, throw more light on this and how our brother will be guided to survive the competition, thank you
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They are welcome..Aba needs to advance in business..China importation of theirs goods to Nigeria is a plus to Nigeria economy .. our local importers should not panick...if they go up you go up...if they are going down you go down with wisdom
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Igbos are one of the most resilient business people in Africa. They will brave the storm as always. But the game should be fair
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Author
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This is food for thought.
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Industrialize ABA is the solution
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They must not let it get beyond there
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A welcome development! I'm so tired of over priced goods in this country!
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This is what will happen to Igbo business men if they don't go into production and exportation
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Author
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A write up littered with half baked knowledge aimed at shaming the Ariria traders.
You speak against trade protectionism, meanwhile the same China you praise are masters of trade protectionism. That's how they grew.
Secondly, why should any right thinking person favour China bringing their goods and establishing direct distribution channels in Ariria when they didn't bring their manufacturing plants to Aba. How will that in any way benefit the state and the country? No technology transfer. No employment yet the local Aba businesses will be eclipsed and uprooted. The money made from the businesses will not be invested in the state but moved back to China via capital flight.
So what exactly is the writer celebrating? How does this benefit the writer personally or by extension?
Something that should be met with massive public outraged and resistance is what someone is here celebrating thinking he is shaming Ariaria traders.
Alex C. Otti please protect local businesses.
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Author
Paul EkperiPaul Ekperi
You raised valid concerns, but you may have misunderstood my angle.
First, I’m not “praising” China. I’m describing a structural shift. Two different things.
Yes, China used protectionism during its rise. But protectionism works only when you already have an industrial policy and state capacity behind it. Protectionism without domestic production simply protects inefficiency. It does not create industry.
Second, the issue is not whether we like Chinese direct distribution. The issue is that global supply chains are compressing. Producers everywhere are moving closer to final markets. This is happening in Africa, Europe, and Latin America. Aba is not special. It is simply experiencing the trend.
Third, your point about technology transfer and capital flight is important. But that is precisely where local strategy matters. If the response is only resistance, traders lose anyway. If the response is upgrading through partnerships, local assembly, branding, specialization, then competition becomes leverage.
History shows this repeatedly: disruption destroys those who defend old positions, but empowers those who reposition.
So I’m not celebrating displacement.
I’m asking whether Aba’s legendary traders will remain middlemen in a world where middle layers are shrinking, or evolve into owners of value creation.
That’s the real question.
See what BUA is doing with POP cement!
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Paul
Ekperi 
Exactly!!
Aba that has become known as the hub of Made in Nigeria finished products.. The
chinese are there to sell the materials and accessories for the local aba
craftsmen.. amongst their own products.. That's not even competition, its a
symbiotic alliance of sorts. The Aba trader doesn't need Forex anymore for his
accessories.. Nigeria gains. The writer is very fixated on an imaginary Chinese
parasitic scenario, far from the reality on the ground..
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Author
Obi Dee OkoyeObi Dee Okoye
Interesting perspective, but I think you’re arguing against something I didn’t say.
I never described the Chinese presence as “parasitic.” In fact, I called it a forced evolution, which includes symbiosis as one possible outcome.
Yes, access to materials locally can reduce forex pressure and help Aba manufacturers. That is a real advantage. But symbiosis does not remove competition. It simply changes its form.
When producers move closer to the market, margins shift and roles change. Some traders will benefit. Others whose value was purely import arbitrage will feel pressure. Both realities can exist at the same time.
My point is not fear. My point is transition.
Every major commercial hub eventually faces this moment where the question becomes: do we remain distributors, or do we climb higher into design, manufacturing depth, branding, and ownership of value?
If Aba succeeds at that transition, then this phase will look less like disruption and more like acceleration.
That is the conversation I’m trying to start.
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Paul Ekperi The Chinese can come to ogun free trade zone. We will welcome just the tax they will pay.
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Now, they will have no other options than to start opening factories and not hotels
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Author
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That's good they should bring manufacturing too.
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This is one of the most
informative posts I’ve seen in recent times. Got my brain firing on multiple
cylinders 
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Thanks for this write up
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Go to trade fair international Lagos state and ask the footwears dealers in mandilas balogun their experience with Chinese, they crashes price of igbo importers
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Imagine this was done to igbos in Lagos.
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Please have they started already??
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I thought it's only Lagos landlord that loves money. So easterners landlord too dey hungry?
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Now you people will understand that when the country is good and better Money na water will reduced all over everywhere
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When you refuse to innovate the whole world moves on without you! We have been too dull as a people! By now we should have had factories..Innoson is an example of where we should have been .
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We should encourage local manufacturing by creating single digit loan for Industrialist that are working tirelessly to develop our society.
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Let them bring their factory not only to import their good's
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It's good news for Aba and the state.
More forex, more visitors and more sales
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Make factories come quickly
I need special bicycle
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Abeg, have they started production?
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Thanks. A quick restructure of our schools or learning systems should be immediate. Some people should be sent to India and China to see their protype and copy it. We should start with college of imitation technology where you don't need five credits with Maths and English but a creative ability. This is impromptu.
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Foreigners should not be allowed in retail. The goods should be manufactured in Nigeria or only locals should be allowed in retail.
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Habilu Abakuri that's in a country where law works. I heard Lebanese and Chinese businessman are fully into trading in Kano and many big northern cities.
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The dealers on specific products should form associations and enter Mountain with those Chinese.
The focus should be how to make it in such a way that the Chinese sell to them directly. In this way, the Chinese make a reasonable income while allowing the middle man to thrive.
There must be a way out.
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why did the chinese not bring the manufacturing to Aba? That will create jobs for the unemployed youths and also generate revenue for the state in the form of taxes. The transformation should be taking. place in Aba
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The factory are coming in next
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dear poster, why this awareness, are u.not abating the take over in a way?
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Simple let their be a level playing ground , eg Govt should give loans at the interest rate the Chinese are accessing from their own Govt. It creates competition. Aba wu Aba we no dey carry last .
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Interesting development
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Good move
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No serious economy allow Chinese to open a distribution shop.
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This will be a mistake on their part
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Mazi Michael Chukwudi Elekwachi
There should be law guiding both,the Chinese shouldn't sale on retails only wholesales
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Mazi Michael Chukwudi Elekwachi that’s hw it is. Only wholesales
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Mazi Michael Chukwudi Elekwachi
If so,they should feel free nah
We need healthy competition there in the east
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A welcome development
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Government should not allowed Chinese to sell directly to final consumers,except wholesalers.
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Tijani Samuel Aneju to protect local business men and traders .
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Holar Nureni why?
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All because Gov. Alex Otti made 24 hours electricity available.
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The Chinese are planning
world dominance in all sector, this should be scary to everyone with critical
thinking 
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Those Chinese are still middlemen. Most companies in China don’t retail. Even shops in Yiwu don’t retail. There is no reason to fear. The Chinese they are seeing are just businessmen or traders like them.
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The Aba I know, must prevail, whatever it takes.
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That's where VDM comes in, lol
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Adapt, innovate... for God's sake manufacture, or perish.
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The game is simple since the government of abia state have given them licence to sell let them also give the business man licence to built factory so they can crash the price more because everything will be produce local.
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Cooperation is better than Competition!
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If the Chinese will be asked to produce in Aba, I am ok with it. But if it for them to import their goods from China and sell in Aba, my brother they will not favourable to Aba city economy. They will push most traders out of business without creating jobs.
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Can your government here give you leverage the Chinese people is giving to there people on production and consumption can they give us low tariff can they give 24-7electricity what of the transportation and the security for the enabling environment to complete you are just typing rubbish we are waiting to see there must be a way
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the people that took over
China 
igbo
people taking over their country
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Look at USA
There is a high tax on importation.
If you want to make your profit
Produce in USA.
So we have to force china by increasing thier tax in importation and reducing it in manufacturing
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Most people commenting on this have very limited knowledge about the dangers and negative effects of Asian dumping, whether from Chinese or Vietnamese factories.
In economics, there is a place for protectionism.
When you evaluate comparative and competitive advantages, you must make smart decisions, as Ghana has, to protect your real sector and local commerce.
First, let me be clear: you cannot out-compete a manufacturer who has access to single-digit interest loans with favorable conditions.
Furthermore, many of these businesses do not operate officially, meaning they evade taxes. You simply cannot compete with them.
A practical case is what happened to those of us in the human hair extension business here in Nigeria.
Once these foreign interests gain a stronghold in Aba, they destroy the SME ecosystem, from footwear to every other sector.
Their items are much cheaper and more accessible than Aba-made products.
Chinese strength is anchored on low prices with improved value.
It is better to restrict their access now, or you will learn the hard way.
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China govt is giving them at subsidize rate to manufacture and export,while our government isn't making it easy on us either production or importing and that's how we'll be slaves again in our country
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The major problem our business men has is not been able to produce, but will government allow them to produce??
Will they agree to sign all the necessary documents for them, that is why some of them end up manufacturing imitation products, because they have tried to make theirs and was denied
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Most Relevant is selected, so some replies may have been filtered out.
Nigerian government is allowing abomination to happen
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That is totally nonsense policy. The government should not allow this to happen. No non African should be allow to own a retail shop. Even in the west that everyone reference to. They do not allow a foreigner own company 100%
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It is against Nigeria constitution APPLE cannot open a store in Nigeria or sell direct to consumers. Imagine Elon musk opening a shop to sell car in Nigeria it is impossible from producer to consumer, even in California it is against the law there must always be a third man
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Chukwujekwu Durunwa I disagree with you.
There could be direct production to consumption and it's done everywhere.
Middle me or distributors have been the cause of inflation and false scarcity.
Coca cola sales are direct, You can even walk into their factory and buy a bottle.
This is good, and hopeful. The hardship in Nigeria is man made.
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Anderson Chimeziri Manufacturers don’t sell direct to consumers
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Chukwujekwu Durunwa matter of choices
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So the Chinese coming to your country to compete with your local seems a good deed to you? Lol even US won't stand them on that aspect
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It's not really advisable for business.
Chinese will not allow NIGERIANS open production centers in their markets, where the same items produced and sold to importers are made?
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The problem is the government
Chinese government is assisting the manufacturers which is not the same here in Nigeria
Many Chinese that came to lagos like this before went back regretting the decision of coming to Nigeria before
Is not easy for manufacturers here in Nigeria
The only local manufacturer that is benefiting from federal government is Dangote only
Make inquiries
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This is happening because Nigeria don't know how to protect local business from foreign competitors. Other countries protect local investors while Nigeria allow local investors to be knocked off by foreign investors which is very bad.
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We should just move into importation quit time. Over dependence on on importation is not a good one at all... That era is almost gone.
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This is not a true narrative because there is no way any sane indigenous people would allow foreigners into there market to own lock up shops. In Alaba international market here it's not allowed even if you come you must be prepared to allow a Nigerian man to be your chief distributor. It's not possible for foreigners to own a shop and be selling directly to the people except through a middle man ship who must be a Nigerian.
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Blessed Uchenna that's the way to go
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Then the govt has failed .. Abia state Govt should never allow Chinese to open lock up stalls on open markets and compete with locals!..
that’s Extra unfair!..
It’s simple build the factories in Aba then gain the right to open ur distribution stalls!..
Can we take Aba to china?
Aba has been on the forefront of manufacturing not just distribution.
Many so called made in China are actually Aba made, this includes underwears and clothings.
Now that China is coming to their domain, it's going to be a fierce competition, and we know how aggressively China is, Aba can't compete.
They need to be protected like China govr with protect theirs, they need to be supported at maximum like China supports theirs, they need that fund and education to measure up.
It's a threat not a test, it's only a test when the ground is levelled for both players
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I feel indigenous business should be protected, we can't go to China and occupy their production to retail, some time past Ghana was harassing us with retail business hijacking, I truly understand their plight, we need to protect indigenous business here in home ground
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Mazi Ezechukwu Otuka Wellsaid
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I believe the Chinese will focus on wholesale whilst the locals goes into retails. Thereby protecting the locals and foreigners rights.
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Nneka
Ifeoma Obi until the Chinese starts running ads, then that
collapses too 
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Broda
Dapo I wrote 
based on
what I witnessed and what Ghana 
laws
requires from foreign business owners .
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You can't do this in China with goods not manufactured in China. That's the battle between China and the developed world. China wants to sell to the world but wants to control all the sales and production at their own country.
Majority of exporters from Africa to China are Chinese people resident in Africa and what they are allowed to ship to China mostly are raw materials.
Aba doesn't have the public fund availability and public infrastructure to compete with China. China Exim Bank provide Chinese with funds enough to take on the world. China has more than enough electricity for its industries and their bank interest rate is one of the lowest worldwide.
So Aba should be protected because even China uses protectionism till date. Check the restrictions on Facebook, Google and Twitter(X) in China
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Can this be allowed in China? Do countries allow such moves to the detriment of their interests?
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Uzo Nwamara I don't think so
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Ogbonnaya Maduawuchukwu Alphonsus
The only solution is for Igbos to put resources together and go into production.the era of trading is gradually given way.
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We allowed the world commonize made in Aba by calling the products Aba made, meaning low quality.
While made in China products are seen as more original.
This negative concept did not only hurt our own brands from Aba, but enriched the Chinese more through importation, and now we have the Chinese, looking at the turnover for years, have decided to come closer to see what's going on and scoop more money.
Aba must step up their production capacity and do more PR to their products.
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Nze Nwanochiriobi Wellsaid
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ABa has always been into production.
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Kelechi Ikem Ibiam From time immemorial
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Na china dey rule unaooo
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Onyeka Chiemelie Michael yes nah
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This is not acceptable by any standard and doesn't favor our economy in any way. The competition should be channeled on production, not on wholesale and retail. If they aren't ready to invest and manufacture those products in Nigeria then they shouldn't be allowed to retail.
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And then what happens when every importer becomes a manufacturer/ brand? No one is seeing the market madness that will ensue as a result.
This posts sounds flowery but in reality, it's a the brew of an economic disaster for Nigerian businesses.
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Broda Dapo It doesn't look good at all
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Onyeka Chiemelie Michael this where mixed economic principles specifically the positive side of socialism must kick in - the government must step in to stem the tide.
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Broda Dapo Wellsaid
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sir Nowhere in the world government will not protect his citizens, you did take their business and give it to foreigners it never done
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Obinna Okafor I agree with you
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This is a war our government supposed to help its citizens win by enforcing some restraint laws for such foreign investors but the love of TAX won't let them.
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Stanley Ubah You couldn't have said it any better
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Chinese will kill their business in. A year I swear..
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I don't think there is any country that allows foreigners do retail trade in their home country especially in their markets.
Nigeria should not allow that and even if they want to, it should be on specific sectors that Nigerian market are yet to develop but not on textiles and Household equipment. If you want to trade in such items, the Investment should exceed a particular amount and should not ne in the market.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts
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