Saudi Cancels Visa Of 264 Nigerian Passengers After Arriving In Jeddah
Saudi Arabian authorities have cancelled the visas of all 264 passengers on an Air Peace flight from Nigeria upon arrival in Jeddah on Monday.
Reports indicate the airline was directed to fly the disappointed travelers back to Nigeria immediately by the Saudi officials.
Sources revealed that the flight from Lagos had transited through Kano before heading to Jeddah. All passengers allegedly passed the required Advanced Passenger Prescreening checks before departure.
Despite interventions by the Nigerian embassy, Saudi only allowed 94 of the 264 passengers entry, insisting over 170 must be returned.
Aviation experts described the mass visa cancellation as a political move targeted at the Nigerian carrier which started cheaper direct flights to Saudi recently.
Stakeholders urged the Nigerian government to stand firmly behind Air Peace as contained in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between both nations.
They want the Foreign Affairs Ministry to intervene and activate reciprocal actions in defense of the indigenous airline to prevent future occurrences.
The visa cancellation has generated outrage in the aviation sector as Saudi Arabian Airlines flies directly from Nigeria to Saudi without obstruction.
