Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has investigated Harzoyka Restaurant in GRA Ikeja following allegations they have a policy that does not allow service to female customers who arrive without a male figure, IgbereTV reports.
It began after CNN journalist Aisha Salaudeen called out the eatery following her experience there. She said she was “kicked out” of the restaurant for being a woman without a man accompanying her and was told it’s a new policy.
After her thread on the matter went viral, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission FCCPC visited the restaurant on the allegation of gender based discrimination.
The FCCPC then gave an update on their findings on Twitter.
According to the FCCPC, the “Commission is issuing a Compliant Notice pursuant to section 150 Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Act, and the undertaking in question shall remain under supervision for a limited period to ensure adequate training and oversight regarding illegal or prohibited parameters for denying access, and proper customer engagement and complaint resolution.”
The Commission added that it “rejects any discrimination or stereotyping on account of race, gender, social class, or any other protected ground, and will subject any perpetrator to the fullest weight of the law.”
Giving an update after FCCPC’s visit to the eatery, Aisha Salaudeen noted that one of the directors of the restaurant has called to apologise, saying the policy was misunderstood.
She wrote:
“Update, one of the director’s of the restaurant has called to apologise. According to him, his staff misunderstood the policy, and he would never ask that women be disallowed from the premises.”
Update, one of the director's of the restaurant has called to apologise. According to him, his staff misunderstood the policy, and he would never ask that women be disallowed from the premises.
— Nana-Aisha (@AishaSalaudeen) November 9, 2020
However, female Twitter users say the policy wasn’t misunderstood as they have had similar experiences while visiting the eatery.
