Saudi Arabia authorities have reportedly cancelled the visa of all the 264 passengers airlifted by Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace, upon arrival on their arrival to the country from Kano.
According to reports, the authorities insisted that the airline should return them to Nigeria.
It was gathered that the flight took-off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos via the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on Sunday night, and arrived in Saudi Arabia’s major city, Jeddah, yesterday without issues. However, upon landing, the Saudi Arabian authorities announced that all the passengers’ visas were cancelled.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that all the passengers and the airline personnel were shocked at the cancellation of the visas because during check the passengers went through the Advanced Passengers Pre-screening System, (APPS), which was also monitored by the Saudi Arabia authorities before the flight left Nigeria.
When the Nigerian embassy waded-in, Saudi authorities were said to have reduced the number of passengers that would be returned to 170 from 264.
Recall that Saudi Air has been operating directly from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia and since Air Peace started flight service to the Middle-East nation at relatively lower fares, it has been receiving high patronage; and, as a Nigerian carrier, it helps to conserve foreign exchange for the country.
According to a source from the Nigerian embassy in Jeddah, even the Saudi Immigration personnel said that they didn’t know who cancelled the visas, but that they were cancelled when the airline was already airborne to Jeddah.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the sector have attributed the development to aero-politics, stating that it is a way to force the Nigerian operator out of the route; unless the government intervenes, adopting the principle of reciprocity.
