₦airaland Forum

DigitWitch:
We alway miss point. His point is not whether his visa expire or not. His point is why he an african man need a visa to travel to an africa country while an european man will travel to africa without a visa?

We are restricting ourself while allowing other from outside to enter freely.

He should go to Aso Rock to ask those questions.

spiSeyi:
That's not the bone of contention and he had already accepted responsibility for that. The main issue is SA allowing undocumented Europeans while they are stricter on Africans . I think it's high time the FG consider the recommendation of Sen. Oshomale (SA businesses can't be in Nigeria and be carting away our billions while they don't accept such)

Again, they were not “undocumented Europeans.” They were travellers from countries with visa-waiver agreements, which means they were entering through a recognised legal framework already negotiated between governments.

And if Nigeria believes South African businesses should face stricter reciprocal treatment, then Nigeria is fully entitled to negotiate, revise, or tighten its own immigration and trade policies through proper state channels. That is how sovereign countries operate.

What does not make sense is demanding that South African immigration officers abandon existing rules at a border post because a wealthy traveller believes the broader continental visa system should be different.

teadrake:
It seems you lack comprehension. So, you're comfortable seeing an african investor being turned away due to expired visa but the same country allows Europeans to have a free pass without visa. Same African countries!!

No, you are the one refusing to separate two different issues.

One issue is whether Africa should improve intra-African movement, trade, and visa access. Many people agree that it should.

The other issue is whether immigration officers were wrong for applying the current legal framework that already exists. The Europeans you keep mentioning were not randomly given a “free pass.” They entered under visa-waiver agreements negotiated between states. The businessman did not qualify under that framework and his visa had expired.

You cannot pretend those are identical situations simply because one traveller was African and the others were European.

fijiano202:
This is a slave mentality.....why allow others

Then take that argument to African governments and regional bodies negotiating visa policy, trade agreements, and continental integration....because that is where those decisions are made.

Calling it “slave mentality” still does not change the basic reality that visa-waiver arrangements exist through negotiated agreements, reciprocity, tourism strategy, economics, diplomacy, and passport rankings. Those Europeans were not smuggled in secretly while Africans were singled out at random.

If Africans want broader visa-free movement among themselves, then African states must build the institutions, trust, reciprocity, and coordinated policies necessary to make that happen sustainably.

Lionessza6:
And people already explained to you why: those Europeans were from visa-exempt countries while he was not. That is how immigration systems work globally.

You keep repeating “African denied entry while Europeans entered” as though the deciding factor was race instead of visa policy and bilateral agreements. An expired visa does not suddenly become valid because the traveller is African

we are discussing sensibly here not xenophobia

malakaimoscondo:
u don't know what u wrote......if visa is a preconditions to enter South Africa as a foreigner,why are the immigration officers allowing whites from other continent to enter with out visa?he said he took responsibility for his own action for travelling with expired visa....but selective application of visa rule is what is not acceptable....

Exposure 😭

You still do not understand what “selective application” means. Immigration officers did not randomly invent different rules at the airport because some travellers were white. Different countries already have different visa agreements with South Africa before anyone even boards a flight.

So no, the issue was not “Africans vs whites.” The issue was that one traveller came from a visa-required country with an expired visa, while others came from visa-exempt countries under existing bilateral agreements.

fijiano202:
This is a slave mentality.....why allow others

don't mind that xenophobic south african woman. U allow a tourist white man from Europe go in visa free because he was going to go the beach and lodge in hotel, sleep with your girls and $4,000 all in all but deny an African billionaire that will come and invest billions of dollars into your economy. Penny wise, pound foolish

ufotunang:
..but the south African immigration allowed Europeans citizens to enter south Africa without visa.

Is that not partiality

No, because those Europeans were entering under visa-waiver agreements already recognised by South African law.

Partiality would be if two Nigerians with the same visa status arrived and immigration arbitrarily allowed one in and denied the other. Applying different rules to different nationalities based on existing bilateral agreements is literally how immigration systems work worldwide.

dfrost:
madrid don't do this. Yes, he should have, his people should have but we are stiffling growth in Africa if we keep doing this. Get his point, not his offence.

People already understand his point. The disagreement is over *how* Africa should improve movement and trade.

Some of you seem to think growth comes from ignoring rules whenever influential people arrive. Others believe long-term growth comes from building strong institutions, predictable systems, reciprocal agreements, and respect for laws ...the same things that made regions like Europe attractive for trade and investment in the first place.

Africa will not grow by replacing formal policy with ad hoc exceptions at airport counters.

Lionessza6:
What was his point really?

That it's absurd to demand visas from Africans and give free entry to Europeans.

What's the use of the AU and AfCTA? Would you see members of the EU demanding visas from European member states and giving free entry to countries from other continents... That's his point.

Udstar:
You don't understand his point. In Europe, a German doesn't require visa to travel to any country in the Europe continent. Why can't we do so in Africa?

Europe’s open-border system did not appear overnight because people complained at airports. It came after decades of economic integration, shared institutions, stronger border management, reciprocal agreements, and countries trusting each other’s systems.

Africa is not there yet.

Also, Europe is not completely visa-free for all Europeans everywhere. The Schengen system applies mainly to participating EU countries with strict agreements and responsibilities attached. Countries can still deny entry, deport people, or restore border controls when necessary.

More importantly, South Africa alone cannot create a continent-wide African open-border policy. Nigeria itself still requires visas from many Africans, including South Africans in most cases. So why is South Africa being singled out for following rules that Nigeria also enforces?

If Africans want easier movement across Africa, then all African governments must negotiate reciprocal agreements and improve continental integration together. But until that happens, every traveller still has the responsibility to carry valid travel documents.

An expired visa is still an expired visa.

Goo0dHardDick:
Black South Africans are 🤡

Very lazy and entitled people. They can't work or do anything. Very barbaric. Without the whites, black SA wouldn't have been existing. The whites developed SA

Ah insults, thought as much..
Obvious deflection from a clear question

DeepSight:
That it's absurd to demand visas from Africans and give free entry to Europeans.

What's the use of the AU and AfCTA? Would you see members of the EU demanding visas from European member states and giving free entry to countries from other continents... That's his point.

His point about Africa needing easier movement between African countries is valid. But then the question becomes: why direct this frustration at a South African immigration officer enforcing existing law instead of at African leaders and policymakers who have failed to implement true continental integration?

As a wealthy and influential businessman, Mr. Rabiu has far greater access to presidents, ministers, AU platforms, and policymakers than ordinary Africans do. If he truly believes Africans should move freely across Africa, then the lobbying should happen in Abuja, at Aso Rock, at the African Union, and within AfCFTA negotiations .... not at a South African airport border post after arriving with an expired visa.

And let us also stop pretending these visa waivers for Europeans appeared out of nowhere. They are based on bilateral agreements, tourism strategy, investment flows, and reciprocity negotiated over many years. South Africa did not wake up one morning and randomly decide “Europeans welcome, Africans rejected.”

Also, the irony is that South Africans themselves still require visas for Nigeria and many other African countries. So if the current system is “absurd,” then African governments collectively created that absurdity together.

Border officials cannot replace failed continental policymaking. Their job is simply to apply the law as it currently exists.

IronGalaxy:
Ah insults, thought as much..
Obvious deflection from a clear question

You didn't asked any questions dude. I'm just told you that black SA are 🤡

If not for the whites in SA, who for know SA

thatigboman:
we are discussing sensibly here not xenophobia

More like wailing over shyt you can't change by online rants . Continue discussing na

thatigboman:
don't mind that xenophobic south african woman. U allow a tourist white man from Europe go in visa free because he was going to go the beach and lodge in hotel, sleep with your girls and $4,000 all in all but deny an African billionaire that will come and invest billions of dollars into your economy. Penny wise, pound foolish

So because someone is rich, immigration laws must suddenly disappear? That is exactly the kind of entitlement people are tired of.

The European tourist entered under a visa-waiver agreement negotiated between governments. The Nigerian billionaire was denied because his visa expired. Very simple.

And please spare us the “billions into your economy” speech. If Nigerian billionaires care so much about African integration, they should start by convincing Nigeria to give South Africans visa-free access too instead of acting shocked that reciprocity exists.

You cannot demand special treatment from South Africa while your own country also maintains visa restrictions on other Africans. That is hypocrisy, not Pan-Africanism.

An airport immigration desk is not a place for emotional blackmail or billionaire privilege. Bring valid documents like everybody else.

madridguy:
Alhaji Rabiu should have renew his visa before embarking on the journey.

Kudos to the South African immigration, unlike our own bambiala immigration officers that all they know is to be begging money from both legal and illegal people coming and leaving the country.

You were so lazy to read the story. The BUA took responsibilities but wonder why Europeans were being allowed without visa.

XENOPHOBIA

Lionessza6:
So because someone is rich, immigration laws must suddenly disappear? That is exactly the kind of entitlement people are tired of.

The European tourist entered under a visa-waiver agreement negotiated between governments. The Nigerian billionaire was denied because his visa expired. Very simple.

And please spare us the “billions into your economy” speech. If Nigerian billionaires care so much about African integration, they should start by convincing Nigeria to give South Africans visa-free access too instead of acting shocked that reciprocity exists.

You cannot demand special treatment from South Africa while your own country also maintains visa restrictions on other Africans. That is hypocrisy, not Pan-Africanism.

An airport immigration desk is not a place for emotional blackmail or billionaire privilege. Bring valid documents like everybody else.

what is the purpose of visa?

NelbromTech:
Some of you just want to comment for commenting sake... Did you read the part he said he has no problem been turn back due to expired visa? The problem he has is the fact that Europeans can get into the country without visa but an African man need visa before been allowed to enter in a country in Africa as a Africa man. Does this make sense to you? Does this seems fair to you?

YOU DON'T KNOW THESE NIGERIAN YOUTHS.

THEY ARE MENTALLY SUBSERVIENT TO WHITES.

HE UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY WHAT RABIU IS SAYING.

HE JUST BELIEVES WHITES ARE SUPERIOR BEINGS WHO SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN WITHOUT A VISA.

Lionessza6:
His point about Africa needing easier movement between African countries is valid. But then the question becomes: why direct this frustration at a South African immigration officer enforcing existing law instead of at African leaders and policymakers who have failed to implement true continental integration?

As a wealthy and influential businessman, Mr. Rabiu has far greater access to presidents, ministers, AU platforms, and policymakers than ordinary Africans do. If he truly believes Africans should move freely across Africa, then the lobbying should happen in Abuja, at Aso Rock, at the African Union, and within AfCFTA negotiations .... not at a South African airport border post after arriving with an expired visa.

And let us also stop pretending these visa waivers for Europeans appeared out of nowhere. They are based on bilateral agreements, tourism strategy, investment flows, and reciprocity negotiated over many years. South Africa did not wake up one morning and randomly decide “Europeans welcome, Africans rejected.”

Also, the irony is that South Africans themselves still require visas for Nigeria and many other African countries. So if the current system is “absurd,” then African governments collectively created that absurdity together.

Border officials cannot replace failed continental policymaking. Their job is simply to apply the law as it currently exists.

Two simple responses, to the red and to the bold in yours -

1. To the red: he did not take out any frustration on any South African Immigration Officer. In fact he acknowledged his fault in it and specifically said he took responsibility. He is complaining at the exact kind of forum that he should be complaining at.

2. To the bold: Of course we all know why such exemptions exist, and its also the result of deliberate policies made to enhance free trade. This is the reason you have free movement in Europe, free movement in ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) for example. He is simply saying it should also exist at the AU level. And he is saying it at the right forum.

NairaMaster1:
You were so lazy to read the story. The BUA took responsibilities but wonder why Europeans were being allowed without visa.

XENOPHOBIA

HE READ THE STORY.

STOP ASSUMING THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.

HE BELIEVES WHITES ARE SUPERIOR, SO THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN WITHOUT A VISA.

He won't say it outright. He will just type one nonsensical response, eg, blaming Rabiu for not renewing his visa etc.

These guys suffer from serious inferiority complex issues. You have no idea.

Goo0dHardDick:
You didn't asked any questions dude. I'm just told you that black SA are 🤡

If not for the whites in SA, who for know SA

I said show us metrics of which you're ahead of black South Africans..

You couldn't ..

So you resorted with insults as typical with you Nigerians..

You're not even embarrassed to tell us you were "told" ... smh.. you have no independent thought apart from what you're told

Don't you think its funny that the so-called 'lazy" people are ahead of you in virtually all relevant metrics? Do you think a country ruled by 80% "lazy people" can continue staying afloat?

Kushites:
HE READ THE STORY.

STOP ASSUMING THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.

HE BELIEVES WHITES ARE SUPERIOR, SO THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN WITHOUT A VISA.

He won't say it outright. He will just type one nonsensical response, eg, blaming Rabiu for not renewing his visa etc.

These guys suffer from serious inferiority complex issues. You have no idea.

This is quite funny coming from a people literally obsessed with white folks

Parachoko:
The African Continent is a Mess

Especially Subsaharan Africa

SHUT UP THERE.

WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED IN YOUR LIFE?

12 OF THE 20 FASTEST GROWING ECONOMIES ON EARTH ARE IN BLACK AFRICA.

WHAT HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED?

ZERO.

Lionessza6:
AfCFTA policies cannot be drafted or improvised at one country’s border post because a wealthy businessman arrived with expired documents.

If African countries want broader visa-free movement for investors, business leaders, and ordinary Africans, then that must happen through formal continental agreements, reciprocal policies, proper institutions, and legal frameworks . . not through emotional pressure on immigration officers to ignore existing rules on the spot.

Have you seen AfCFTA's trade policy document?

Make it make sense that an African is denied entrance and a foreigner is granted access, even though both of them doesn't have visa.

IronGalaxy:
This is quite funny coming from a people literally obsessed with white folks

I'M REFERRING TO NIGERIAN YOUTHS, NOT YOUR PEOPLE.

DeepSight:
Two simple responses, to the red and to the bold in yours -

1. To the red: he did not take out any frustration on any South African Immigration Officer. In fact he acknowledged his fault in it and specifically said he took responsibility. He is complaining at the exact kind of forum that he should be complaining at.

2. To the bold: Of course we all know why such exemptions exist, and its also the result of deliberate policies made to enhance free trade. This is the reason you have free movement in Europe, free movement in ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) for example. He is simply saying it should also exist at the AU level. And he is saying it at the right forum.

Then he should have made that broader AU argument without packaging it as another “South Africa welcomes Europeans but rejects Africans” story, because that framing is deliberately provocative and misleading.

South Africa did not single him out for being African. He arrived with an expired visa and was denied entry according to the law ...... the exact same thing that would happen to many South Africans landing in Nigeria or elsewhere with invalid documents.

And yes, visa waivers are deliberate policy decisions. Precisely. Which means the real issue is not a South African immigration officer doing his job, but African governments collectively failing to create AU-wide mobility agreements.

ECOWAS countries negotiated regional movement. SADC countries negotiated regional movement. Europe negotiated Schengen. These things happen through long-term state agreements, reciprocity, border coordination, and political will ....not through emotional speeches after someone’s paperwork was invalid.

So if the current African system is “absurd,” then African governments.....including Nigeria’s ....helped create that absurdity. South Africa alone cannot be turned into the symbolic villain every time continental integration fails.

At the end of the day, existing agreements were honoured, and an expired visa was treated as expired. That is not anti-Africanism. That is immigration law.

Kushites:
I'M REFERRING TO NIGERIAN YOUTHS, NOT YOUR PEOPLE.

Glad we're on the same page

Kushites:
SHUT UP THERE.

WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED IN YOUR LIFE?

12 OF THE 20 FASTEST GROWING ECONOMIES ON EARTH ARE IN BLACK AFRICA.

WHAT HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED?

ZERO.

I know say nah like this you dey reason your p man