The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria has reacted to the cancellation of 264 Air Peace Jaddah-bound passengers’ visas on arrival at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah on Monday.
Recall that passengers on the Air Peace flight departed Murtala Mohammad International Airport, Lagos via Mallam Aminu International Airport, Kano for Saudi Arabia Sunday night had arrived in Saudi’s major city of Jeddah on Monday morning.
On landing, the passengers were shocked with the Saudi Arabia authorities announced that declared their visas cancelled. Although, the authorities later checked and subsequently granted entry to 87 passengers, the remaining 177 passengers were denied entry and asked to flight back to Nigeria.
In a statement from Mohamamd Alsahabi the Royal Embassy press secretary, the Saudi authority said the Air peace passengers’ were denied entry and subsequently deported to their destinations failed to adhere to requirement.
According to the release, ” the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja would like to make a clarification about the media reports and Social Media releases concerning the deportation of Nigerian citizens at the point of entry into the Kingdom.
“The passengers whom were denied entry, and subsequently deported to their initial destinations, didn’t fulfill the entry conditions and requirements in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the Kingdom, as they submitted incorrect information to obtain a category of visa that doesn’t apply to them, which was discovered upon their arrival.
“The Royal Embassy would like to stress the importance of following the procedures and laws enacted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for all visitors. Furthermore, all passengers should review all the documents to determine their conformity with the conditions prior departing from their countries to the Kingdom. This procedure was not limited to Nigerian citizens only, but rather to citizens of other countries”. Statement noted.
The incident which occurred while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal government delegations were in the Kingdom for the Arab and Africa business submit, has attracted diplomatic and bilateral concern between the two countries.
Although the Federal government and the national assembly has vowed to investigate the root cause of the ugly development, Nigerians are expecting the outcome of the investigation.
