The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia has clarified why it cancelled the visa of all the 264 passengers who arrived in Jeddah from Nigeria on Air Peace.
The Nation reports authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia cancelled the visa of the passengers who arrived Sunday, especially many who were visiting Saudi for Lesser Hajj.
The flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos via the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano Sunday night and landed at King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The incident occurred barely one week after Air Peace launched a direct flight to Saudi Arabia.
It was gathered that it was when the Nigerian embassy waded in that Saudi authorities reduced the number of passengers that would be returned to 177 from 264.
A statement by the Embassy, Monday evening explained that the passengers did not fulfill the entry conditions for the Kingdom.
It noted that the applicable rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia were not met as they submitted incorrect information.
The statement partly reads: “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.
“This procedure was not limited to Nigerian citizens only, but rather to citizens of other countries.”
Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said the ministry will ensure such actions that impact the welfare of Nigerian citizens are mitigated in the future in line with what was described as the Four Ds strategy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Royal Saudi Embassy also issued cautionary measures for applicants wishing to visit the Arabian Peninsula.
“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,” it also read.
“Furthermore, all passengers should review all the documents to determine their conformity with the conditions before departing from their countries to the Kingdom.”
