ShopRite Nigeria workers protest unpaid salaries amid nationwide store closures

Workers at ShopRite Nigeria have staged protests across several states, demanding months of unpaid salaries and clarity on their jobs, as the retail chain grapples with widespread store closures and operational disruptions.

Employees report that they have not received salaries since December 2025, prompting demonstrations in Akure (Ondo State), Warri (Delta State), and other locations. The unrest has affected operations nationwide, with many outlets either shut or running on minimal staff. Customers have reported empty shelves, limited product availability, and supply chain breakdowns, highlighting the retailer’s deepening financial struggles.

“Save our soul. We are starving. We can’t keep quiet anymore. Pay our salaries and wages. Pay our 10 months of unpaid pension. Issue clearance letters for our NHF contributions. Pay our exit benefits and redundancy. Do not transfer us to another employer,” read the banners carried by protesting staff.

Sources attribute ShopRite’s difficulties to Nigeria’s challenging economic environment, including foreign exchange volatility, rising inflation, and reduced consumer spending.

In response, ShopRite’s new management acknowledged the challenges, saying it is working to restructure operations by relying more on local supply chains and introducing smaller store formats.

A formal letter dated February 2, 2026, from Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited—the operator of ShopRite—to the National Union of Shop and Distributive Employees (NUSDE), outlined the outcome of a board meeting held on January 29. The company cited “prolonged suspension and phased reopening of stores, liquidity limitations, legal restrictions on certain bank accounts, and accumulated operational liabilities” as factors affecting its operations.

The letter also revealed plans for a workforce restructuring, limited to stores not scheduled to reopen soon and “excess head office capacity.” Updates on store reopenings are expected within 90 to 180 days.

The protests underscore growing unrest among staff and the uncertainty facing one of Nigeria’s leading retail chains.