Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has urged the Federal Government and the Nigeria Immigration Service to review visa applications by South African artistes and their team in line with the principle of reciprocity, amid the controversy surrounding South African Grammy award winning singer Tyla’s cancelled Lagos concert and allegations of unfair treatment of Nigerian artistes.
The senator made the request in a statement issued on Friday, following claimed claims that Nigerian music artist Ayra Starr and members of her entourage had previously been denied entrance permits to South Africa, causing them to cancel their commitments.
Her action comes only days after Tyla pulled Lagos from her APOP World Tour schedule in response to strong boycott demands triggered by fresh concerns over racist attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
Natasha stated that Nigeria should not remain silent when its citizens are treated unfairly abroad, and that the country’s foreign policy should be based on 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 also stated 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.
However, the senator emphasized that her opinion was not meant at Tyla or any other South African musician personally, but rather at ensuring that Nigeria’s diplomatic relations are guided by justice 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.
Natasha described reciprocity as a recognised diplomatic instrument and stated that discriminatory actions against Nigerians overseas should result in commensurate consequences.
“When our citizens face discriminatory or unjust treatment abroad, Nigeria must demonstrate that such actions carry corresponding consequences,” she said.
She also called on 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 sparked new debate on social media, with many Nigerians divided on whether the government should enact harsher reciprocal visa policies in response to claimed unfair immigration tactics against its own residents.
The development comes hours after Chronicle NG 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.
Tyla’s official tour website stated that the Lagos date had been withdrawn on Friday, but all other tour stops in Europe, North America, and South Africa remained on the programme.
The controversy erupted after activist Martins Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan, threatened to mobilise members of his “Ratel Movement” to prevent the concert from taking place, claiming that South African entertainers should not be welcomed in Nigeria while attacks on Nigerians allegedly continued in their country.
However, the African Action Congress’s 2027 presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, rejected the boycott movement, arguing that Tyla should not be held accountable for xenophobic attacks and encouraging Nigerians to take their complaints to the relevant authorities.
