•affected passengers urged to stay calm
The Federal Government has commenced investigations into the controversial cancellation of the visas for 177 Air Peace Nigerian passengers by the Saudi Arabia authorities.
The flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos via the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on Sunday night and arrived Saudi Arabia’s major city onMonday without issues but on landing, the Saudi Arabia authorities announced that all the passengers visas were cancelled.
While the mode applied by the Saudi authorities to cancel the visas has since elicited anger against the Arab nation, the 177 passengers have since been flown back into Nigeria by Air Peace.
In statement issued and signed on behalf of the Ministry of foreign affairs by one Mrs Franscisca K. Omayuli, dated November 14th, 2023, and sighted by the Nigerian Tribune with the reference No:MEA/PR/2023/27, the federal government called for calm following the cancellation of the visas of the Nigerians.
The statement partly read: “The attention of the federal government has been drawn to the media reports on the cancellation of the visa and subsequent deportation of passengers airlifted from Nigeria on Sunday, 12th November, 2023 to Saudi Arabia.
“According to the reports received from the Nigerian Consulate in Jeddah, Air Peace Flight No. P4-752 airlifted two hundred and sixty four passengers from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Amina Kano International Airport and landed at the King Abdulaziz International Airport-Hajj Terminal Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Monday, 13th, November, 2023.
“It was on arrival at the Hajj terminal that the Saudi Immigration authorities informed the passengers that their visas had been cancelled.Consequently, one hundred and seventy seven passengers were made to return on the same flight back to Nigeria. While eighty seven passengers were cleared by immigration and allowed entry into Jeddah.”
According to the ministry, the Saudi authorities are yet to give reasons for the cancellation of the visas, except for eighteen of the passengers who were outrightly banned from Saudi Arabia for various offenses committed in the past.
While describing Saudi Arabia as Nigeria’s traditional and strategic partner, the statement from the ministry declared: “In this regard, investigation is ongoing in both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. The affected passengers are therefore implored to keep calm, while the matter is being resolved.”
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