The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism Arts and Culture Mr Steve Ayorinde, on Tuesday, debunked claims that a racist restaurant operates in the heart of the state capital, Ikeja.
The social media had been on high drive since a national newspaper published Monday, that a certain Chinese restaurant in Ikeja, known as Shi Shi, engages in racial discrimination against Nigerians and potential Nigerian customers.
According to the reports, the restaurant is exclusively Chinese and would only admit Nigerians or black only if they are escorted by a Chinese.
Ayorinde whose office registers all tourism, restaurant leisure and hospitality outlets in the state said officers of the Ministry had gone to investigate the veracity of the claim when they got winds of it.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ayorinnde said the two officers who went to the said restaurant named Shi Shi, 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,” Ayorinde further disclosed.
He however assures Lagosians that the ministry will carry out further investigation on the matter and keep the people abreast of its findings.
“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,” Ayorinde declared.
Steve Ayorinde