The Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed that it has commenced investigations into the cancellation of the visas of all 264 passengers, who were airlifted to Jeddah from Lagos and Kano over the weekend, by the Saudi Arabian authorities.
Africa Today News, New York had on Monday reported that Saudi Arabia had cancelled the visas of all 264 passengers airlifted by Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace, on arrival in Jeddah from Kano and insisted that the airline return them to Nigeria.
The aircraft left Sunday night from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and arrived at Saudi Arabia’s largest city without incident, via Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano. Nevertheless, the Saudi Arabian authorities declared that every passenger’s visa had been revoked upon landing.
The source said that all the passengers and the airline personnel were shocked at the cancellation of the visas because, during check-in, the passengers went through the Advanced Passengers Prescreening System (APPS), which was also monitored by the Saudi Arabian authorities before the flight left Nigeria.
Read Also: Saudi Arabia Revokes Visas Of 264 Jeddah-Bound Nigerians
In a statement signed by the Special Assistant and Media Strategy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Alkasim Abdulkadir which was sighted by Africa Today News, New York, disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is investigating the matter to see if any consular or aviation rules have been flouted.
‘The Ministry will ensure such actions that impact the welfare of Nigerian citizens are mitigated in the future in line with the 4 Ds strategy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.’
‘Nigeria has just participated in the Saudi-Africa Summit, where bilateral discussions covering several sectors of the economy and mutually beneficial commitments were made.’ The statement further reads.
Meanwhile, many Nigerians have taken to social media to react to the development.