Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has urged the Federal Government to apply the principle of reciprocity in its relations with South Africa following reports that singer Ayra Starr and her team were denied South African visas.
The Kogi Central lawmaker made the call in a statement on Thursday. She asked the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Federal Government to review visa applications from South African artistes and their entourages using the same standard Nigerians face in South Africa.
SEE ALSO: Nigerians React Differently to Boycott Campaign Against Tyla’s Lagos Concert 
Natasha said authorities should first confirm reports that Ayra Starr and her team were denied visas. She said the government should act if the visa refusal forced the singer to cancel scheduled engagements in South Africa.
“If it is confirmed that our Nigerian artiste Ayra Starr and her team were 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,” she said.
The senator said her position was not directed at South African singer Tyla.
“This is not a call against Tyla as an individual,” she said. “Rather, it is a call for Nigeria to uphold the principle of mutual respect that underpins international relations.”
Her statement comes days after Tyla removed Lagos from the African leg of her A*POP World Tour.
The singer originally announced Lagos as one of three African stops. She scheduled the concert for December 22 alongside shows in Cape Town and Johannesburg. An updated tour poster later removed Lagos from the itinerary.
Neither Tyla nor her management has explained the change. Live Nation, the tour promoter, has also not commented.
The revised schedule followed calls on social media for Nigerians to boycott the Lagos concert. Some users linked the campaign to recurring reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa. Others opposed the boycott and argued that Tyla should not answer for the actions of private individuals or the South African government.
Natasha said the developments had renewed conversations about how South Africa treats Nigerians. She argued that Nigeria should protect its citizens through reciprocal diplomatic measures.
“Reciprocity is a recognised instrument of diplomacy,” she said. “When our citizens face discriminatory or unjust treatment abroad, Nigeria must demonstrate that such actions carry corresponding consequences.”
She also said Nigeria’s foreign policy should protect the dignity of its citizens wherever they are. According to her, relations between both countries should reflect mutual respect rather than one-sided concessions.
South African authorities have not commented publicly on the reported visa issue involving Ayra Starr. The Federal Government has also not responded to Natasha’s call at the time of filing this report.
ALSO READ: Tyla Drops Lagos From World Tour Amid Backlash Over Xenophobic Attacks
About The Author
