A Chinese expatriate working with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the company handling the Lagos electric rapid transit project, has been accused of ordering the assault of Nigerian workers. The incident reportedly occurred on Friday at the Abule Ado section of the construction site.
According to eyewitnesses, this was the third time such an incident had occurred in the past month involving Nigerian workers employed by CCECC. The altercation allegedly began when two workers attempted to ride in the rear section of the company’s Toyota Hilux after their shift ended. This action reportedly angered the Chinese expatriate, who then instructed a soldier assigned to him to “deal with” the workers.
A witness described the event, saying, “At about 5:30 pm after work, two workers tried to climb into the back of the Hilux to head home. The Chinese man inside saw them and immediately ordered the soldier with him to assault them. The soldier used his weapon to beat them severely, leaving them badly injured.”
The witness added that similar incidents had occurred twice in the past month, noting, “These workers already endure harsh conditions, working from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm every day, including weekends, for less than N70,000 monthly. It’s heartbreaking to see them treated this way.”
Another individual expressed anger over the incident, saying, “It is disgraceful that a foreigner could command a Nigerian soldier, paid with taxpayers’ money, to brutalize fellow citizens. The authorities must investigate this, and the Lagos State government should step in. These workers are the backbone of the Lagos Blue Rail project, working tirelessly from Marina to Okokomaiko.”
This incident follows another controversial episode involving a Chinese national in Lagos a few weeks earlier. In that case, a Chinese businessman was caught on video tearing Naira notes during a confrontation with Lagos State officials. The officials had sealed his company along the Lekki-Epe Expressway for alleged violations of local regulations.
The viral video showed the man resisting the officials and pulling Naira notes from his bag before destroying them, sparking public outrage. Nigerian employees at the scene were seen shielding the man from being detained by the authorities.
Both incidents have triggered widespread condemnation, with many Nigerians calling for accountability and better treatment of local workers employed by foreign companies.
