Saudi Arabia Cancels Visas of 264 Passengers Airlifted by Air Peace, Demands Return to Nigeria
Saudi Arabia has cancelled the visas of all 264 passengers airlifted by Air Peace upon arrival in Jeddah. The Saudi authorities insisted that the airline must return the passengers to Nigeria.
The flight, which originated from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos via Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, arrived in Jeddah without issues. However, upon landing, Saudi authorities announced the cancellation of all the passengers’ visas.
It’s reported that the passengers and airline personnel were surprised by the visa cancellations, given that the passengers had gone through the Advanced Passengers Prescreening System (APPS) during check-in, which was monitored by Saudi Arabian authorities before the flight left Nigeria.
The Nigerian embassy in Jeddah intervened in the situation, and Saudi authorities reduced the number of passengers to be returned to Nigeria from 264 to 177.
Saudi Air has been operating directly from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia, and Air Peace’s entry into the market has received high patronage due to relatively lower fares.
The incident raises concerns about geopolitics and diplomacy, and there are calls for the Nigerian government to intervene and support its designated carriers operating internationally.
The founder of Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), emphasised the need for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to step in and address the situation, asserting that the government should stand firmly with Nigerian carriers designated for international routes.
Ojikutu also highlighted the importance of designating Nigerian airlines as flag carriers, emphasising government support for the country’s carriers.
Source: The SUN Newspaper
