A Chinese national identified as Mr Jiang has tendered an apology to Nigerians and the Nigeria Police Force after a viral video showed him handing cash to some Mobile Police (MOPOL) officers, sparking outrage and allegations of bribery.
In the video, widely shared across social media platforms, a group of Nigerian police officers was seen lining up to receive N5,000 each from the Chinese delegation.
The footage drew criticism from Nigerians, with many condemning the action as a clear case of inducement and unprofessional conduct.
However, Mr Jiang, who led the Chinese business delegation, has clarified that the money was not a bribe but a token of appreciation for the officers’ service during their official visit.
He described the act as a “food subsidy” — a common gesture in his home country to thank individuals for their professionalism and kindness.
“Recently, I led a Chinese delegation to meet with Nigerian authorities for investment opportunities. During the process, the local police provided us with excellent security services. To thank them for their efforts, I gave them food subsidies as a gesture of gratitude and appreciation,” he said in a recorded statement.
“These meal subsidies do not imply anything else. There was no intent to disrespect or insult the local police — just to say thank you.”
The businessman also noted that the gesture was made openly, with no intent of secrecy or wrongdoing, and was based on cultural traditions.
“What you see in the video was a friendly and open interaction — nothing was done in secret and nothing inappropriate happened,” he said.
“It’s a common Chinese tradition, where we come from, to show appreciation or kindness to people who are doing their jobs well — especially when they’ve been helpful or respectful.”
Mr Jiang acknowledged that the incident caused a stir due to cultural and legal differences and expressed regret over the misunderstanding.
He admitted that some members of his delegation, unfamiliar with Nigerian regulations, recorded the scene and shared it online — a move he said had unintended consequences.
“This is their first time in Nigeria, and unfortunately, the development has had a negative effect on our security team. I apologise for that,” he said.
The Chinese businessman assured that the incident would not affect his mission of promoting Chinese investments in Nigeria, adding that discussions were underway with relevant authorities to address the matter.
“Although this incident has had some negative impact online, it will not affect the future. I will continue to promote and lead more investors to Nigeria. Finally,
“ I will discuss this incident with all relevant personnel and departments to address its impact. I sincerely apologise,” he concluded.
The Nigeria Police Force has since condemned the conduct of the officers in the video and assured Nigerians that disciplinary measures would be taken.
Reacting to the incident, rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, described the officers’ actions as shameful, accusing them of greed and lack of discipline.
The episode has reignited concerns about professionalism and ethical conduct within the police force, even as stakeholders call for deeper orientation and enforcement of anti-corruption standards among security agencies.
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