The visas of the 264 travellers who made the journey from Nigeria to Jeddah have been cancelled by Saudi Arabian authorities.
On Sunday night, November 12, the Air Peace flight initiated its travel from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, transiting through Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, and successfully landed in the major city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, today, November 13.
Upon arrival, the Saudi Arabian authorities declared the cancellation of all passengers’ visas, instructing them to return to Nigeria.
A source disclosed to Vanguard that the cancellation of visas surprised both passengers and airline personnel. The unexpected development was particularly bewildering as passengers had undergone the Advanced Passengers Prescreening System (APPS) during the check, a process closely monitored by Saudi Arabian authorities before the flight left Nigeria.
There was speculation from the source regarding whether the visa cancellations were a calculated strategy to discourage the airline from operating to that destination.
The airline had been consistently experiencing a high load factor since the commencement of its operations, with the Tuesday flight to Jeddah already fully booked.
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Saudi Air has traditionally operated direct flights from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia, but with the introduction of flight services by Air Peace at more affordable fares, the Nigerian carrier has garnered substantial patronage. This not only benefits the airline but also contributes to conserving foreign exchange for the country.
According to a source at the Nigerian embassy in Jeddah, the Saudi immigration personnel admitted that they were unaware of who canceled the visas, and notably, this occurred while the airline was already airborne to Jeddah.
According to the source, ‘The airline was exonerated in all this as the APPS, which is live between both countries would have screened out any invalid visa and its passenger. The system accepted all affected passengers and passed them on.’
‘Those deported were 177 passengers and Air Peace has already left with them back to Nigeria. They are on their way to Nigeria now.’
Aeropolitics is believed to be the driving force behind the unfolding events, as indicated by industry stakeholders.
Analysts asserted that the current tactic could be a means to pressure the Nigerian operator to withdraw from the route, unless the government intervenes with a reciprocity-based approach.
The Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult in Nigeria, Group Captain John Ojikutu, along with industry experts, contends that the Saudi actions are a manifestation of aeropolitics and diplomacy.
He urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promptly step in and intervene in the matter. He underscored that the recent developments illustrate the critical importance of the Nigerian government strongly supporting any Nigerian carrier designated for international routes.
Ojikutu said: ‘The action of the Saudi Authorities is shocking. There is geopolitics there and there is also diplomacy. There is the need for the Nigerian government to stand firmly with Nigerian carriers and also designate them as flag carriers; so that other countries will know that they represent Nigeria.’
‘Government must come out and intervene. The government must be behind Air Peace now to ensure that it is not denied its rights as contained in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between the two countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must not keep quiet. Nigeria must not keep quiet. Ideally, the government is expected to stand behind any of the country’s airlines that it designates to fly overseas.’