Despite that China possesses businesses or collaborations in Nigeria and is engaged in the construction, oil and gas, technology, services, and education fields, Nigerian workers employed by them have not found it funny while the tourists smile home with Billions of Dollars, ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE examines.
Migrants in numerous countries often encounter hostility in the workplace from the native population. Nevertheless, the scenario in Nigeria differs, as there have been continuous cases of foreign tourists and their companies exploiting Nigerian citizens by subjecting them to forced labor and demeaning forms of employment relationships.
The Inner Galaxy Steel Company, located in Umuahala-Obuzor Asa within the Ukwa West chamber area of Abia State, has been identified as a potential foreign threat on work tourism. In May of this year, a Chinese national reportedly caused the death of a Nigerian female crane operator identified as Ocheze Ogbonna. She originated from the company’s native locale, Umuahala, Obuzor Asa.
Our investigation revealed that Ocheze was intentionally pushed off the crane by a supervisor of Chinese descent employed by the company. It was reported that she struck her head on a solid object and succumbed. Allegations have been made by steel factory workers that, due to Ocheze’s alleged rejection of romantic advances, the Chinese manager has a strained relationship with Ocheze.
The community’s youth protested against the incident, but reports indicated that they were fired upon and beaten by security personnel from the company. According to our reporter’s findings, locals asserted, “The Chinese employees at Inner Galaxy Steel Company are treating Nigerians in a dehumanizing manner.
“Ocheze was forcibly ejected from the crane by the Chinese supervisor. She slipped and struck her head against the unforgiving surface, leading to her passing. Equity must be served, as our sister’s injustice cannot go unresolved. The authorities should investigate the actions of the Chinese individuals within this organization.
“The troopers overseeing the group are accusing us of resisting the passing of our sister. They are subjecting Nigerians to significant suffering.”
As if that was not enough, a Nigerian physician provided detailed instructions on medical treatment for injuries sustained by a Nigerian employee at a Chinese company. The Nigerian technician, an employee of the company, was tasked by the Chinese employer with organizing the recently delivered aluminum rods.
Findings exposed that the company typically hired employees for the packaging of rods. The Nigerian employee stated that the task was assigned to laborers, and the incident occurred at the end of the shift when the Chinese supervisor took hold of an aluminum rod and began hitting the Nigerian worker on the chest, as reported by a witness. The continent abounds with such incidents. Among not only Chinese employees but also other foreign employees.
This could have been what has prompted the former Zambian President Michael Sata to face the possibility of criticism due to his staunch opposition to the labor practices of China. Sata denounced China’s actions in Africa and committed to safeguarding Zambia from becoming a destination for Chinese immigrants. The circumstances in Nigeria pose comparable difficulties.
Despite that the inaugural International Labour Organisation (ILO) office in Africa was set up in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1959 to curb these excesses, investigations reveal that manufacturing plants operated by Chinese and Indian investors in Nigeria subject Nigerian workers to low-cost labor, hazardous conditions without safeguards, violation of minimum wage laws, and deprivation of fundamental rights. Furthermore, young Nigerian workers are vulnerable to preventable serious injuries, such as those suffered by Ocheze, including physical and personal harm.
Nonetheless, these entities continue to exploit their workers by taking advantage of the weak regulations and inadequate administrative framework in Nigeria. ‘Casual workers’ are temporary laborers hired through a staffing agency to work in the factory. Workers in this category do not receive the same level of treatment as employees and can easily be terminated from work due to the lack of an agreement between them and the company. ‘Casual workers’ remuneration is consistently calculated and disbursed to them at the end of each month.
They are required to work on a regular basis, including Sundays, and their total wages are disbursed at the end of the month. The situation described has resulted in a protest organized by the Construction Workers Union and the Nigerian Labour Congress, along with their affiliated unions. The protest, led by Comrade Emmanuel Ugbaja, NLC General Secretary, and leaders of the Construction Workers Union, for that moment disrupted operations at the premises of Chinese Construction Company, Shaanxi Construction Company, located at the New ECOWAS Secretariat on Airport Road, Lugbe.
The protest was initiated due to allegations of inhumane treatment and casualization of workers at the site. Concerns have been raised that the presence of Chinese companies in Africa is testing the labor laws in various African nations, including Nigeria. Concerns have arisen regarding Chinese work practices, which are commonly perceived as unfair, with numerous instances reported of harsh and exploitative working conditions. African legislatures and trade guilds have been directed to increase efforts to ensure the protection of workers; however, this is not currently happening.
Experts have suggested that the situation of African professionals working under Chinese companies highlights the inadequate and unenforced labor regulations present in many African countries. According to public opinion, China’s non-interference policy does not prevent the targeting of Chinese nationals in Africa, some of whom exhibit racist attitudes and a superiority complex. According to data: A viral video showed Liu Jiaqi, a Chinese citizen being deported from Kenya for making racist remarks against his Kenyan colleagues. In Kenya, the level of law enforcement is considered to be stronger compared to other regions in Africa.
According to the source, another video released from Uganda depicted a Chinese illegal excavator assaulting a Ugandan government representative. This has prompted public opinion to call for Africans to demand improved treatment of their workers and enforce labor regulations.
In all of this, the Nigeria’s Debt Management Office’s data revealed that China stands as the largest bilateral creditor to Nigeria, providing loans totaling $5 billion as of March. As that might be, as of June 30, 2022, Nigeria’s debt to China stood at $3.93bn, rising to $4.73bn by June 30, 2023, marking an $800m increase over the course of one year. The analysis of external debt stock data from the Debt Management Office shows a 20.36% increase from Q2 2022 to Q2 2023.
Manufacturing, services, and agriculture are the largest sectors of the Chinese economy, employing the majority of the population and making the largest contribution. The National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria, has experienced an annual loss of approximately $10 billion due to brain drain (mass migration) since 2010. Similarly, data from the World Bank indicates that Nigeria’s GDP growth has been adversely impacted by the migration of qualified professionals. In 2023, South Africa emerged as the top purchaser of Chinese products, with Nigeria and Egypt ranking as the second and third largest buyers, respectively.
Drawing from Nigeria’s current circumstances, there has been a significant rise in the presence of Chinese individuals and businesses in Nigeria by 2019, with more than 1,000 enterprises generating employment opportunities and investments totaling approximately $20 billion. It is evident that Nigeria holds appeal for both Chinese companies and the government.
A field survey conducted between November 2016 and March 2017 across eight African countries revealed a total of 920 Chinese companies operating in Nigeria with number increasing in 2024. The highest number of Chinese companies was recorded in South Africa, with Zambia and Tanzania following closely with 861 and 825 companies, respectively.
They possess businesses or collaboration in Nigeria engaged in the construction, oil and gas, technology, services, and education fields of the Nigerian economy. In 2006, Nigeria was chosen to host two of the initial six Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that the Chinese government pledged to establish in Africa—the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) and the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ).
China is a considerable provider of foreign direct investment in Africa and extends development loans to resource-endowed countries such as Angola. However, the United Kingdom continues to be Nigeria’s primary source of foreign capital, contributing a total of $1.14 billion in inflows.
~Odimegwu Onwumere is Chairman, Advocacy Network On Religious And Cultural Coexistence (ANORACC).
