The lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has urged the Federal Government and the Nigeria Immigration Service to review visa applications by South African artistes and their entourages in line with the principle of reciprocity, amid the controversy surrounding South African singer Tyla’s cancelled Lagos concert and allegations of unfair treatment of Nigerian artistes.
The senator made the call in a statement issued on Friday following alleged reports that Nigerian music star Ayra Starr and members of her team were previously denied entry visas to South Africa, forcing the cancellation of their engagements.
Her intervention comes days after Tyla removed Lagos from the schedule of her APOP World Tour following widespread boycott calls sparked by renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said Nigeria should not remain passive when its citizens are subjected to unfair treatment abroad, insisting that the country’s foreign policy should reflect mutual respect.
“I call on the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Federal Government of Nigeria to review the visa applications of South African artistes and their entourages in accordance with the principle of reciprocity in foreign policy,” she said.
She added that if reports concerning Ayra Starr’s visa denial were confirmed, Nigeria should adopt corresponding measures until Nigerians receive fair treatment.
“If it is confirmed that our Nigerian artiste Ayra Starr and her team were previously denied entry visas to South Africa, leading to the cancellation of their engagements, then Nigeria should respond with equivalent measures until Nigerian citizens and artistes are accorded fair and respectful treatment,” the senator stated.
The lawmaker, however, stressed that her position was not directed at Tyla or any South African artiste personally, but at ensuring that Nigeria’s diplomatic relations are guided by fairness and mutual respect.
“This is not a call against Tyla as an individual. Rather, it is a call for Nigeria to uphold the principle of mutual respect that underpins international relations,” she explained.
Describing reciprocity as a recognised diplomatic tool, Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that discriminatory actions against Nigerians abroad should attract appropriate consequences.
“When our citizens face discriminatory or unjust treatment abroad, Nigeria must demonstrate that such actions carry corresponding consequences,” she said.
She further urged the Federal Government to ensure that Nigeria’s foreign policy protects the dignity of Nigerians wherever they may be.
“Our foreign policy should protect the dignity of Nigerians everywhere and ensure that respect between nations is mutual, not one-sided,” she added.
The senator’s statement has generated fresh debate on social media, with many Nigerians divided over whether the country should adopt stricter reciprocal visa measures in response to alleged discriminatory immigration practices against its citizens.
The development comes hours after PUNCH Online reported that the Grammy-winning singer removed Lagos from the December 22 itinerary of her APOP World Tour after calls by some Nigerians to boycott the concert over renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa.
A check on Tyla’s official tour website on Friday showed that the Lagos date had been removed, while all other tour stops across Europe, North America and South Africa remained on the schedule.
The controversy intensified after activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, threatened to mobilise members of his “Ratel Movement” to prevent the concert from holding, arguing that South African entertainers should not be welcomed in Nigeria while attacks on Nigerians allegedly continued in their country.
However, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, opposed the boycott campaign, maintaining that Tyla should not be held responsible for xenophobic attacks and urging Nigerians to direct their grievances at the appropriate authorities.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Tyla nor her management had explained why the Lagos concert was removed from the tour schedule, while the concert promoters had yet to announce whether the event had been cancelled or postponed.
punch.ng
FOLLOW US ON:
