A shocking incident occurred on Sunday night when the Saudi Arabian authorities cancelled the visas of all the 264 passengers who were flown to Jeddah from Lagos and Kano by Air Peace, a Nigerian airline.
The authorities ordered the airline to return the passengers back to Nigeria, despite the fact that they had gone through the Advanced Passengers Information System (APIS) during the check-in formalities in Nigeria, which was also monitored by the Saudi authorities.
Daily Trust reports that Air Peace had launched a direct flight to Jeddah two weeks ago, which had been attracting high patronage.
A source who confirmed the development said, “The screening of passengers from the MMIA and Kano Airport was thorough and there was no issue with the visas.
“These were people who were duly issued the visa and they passed through the advanced passenger information system which is accessible to both authorities in Lagos and Jeddah. We are surprised because this cancellation was announced when the flight already landed.
“We are suspecting this is a strategy to frustrate the Nigerian carrier out of the route, some people are definitely not happy with the option Air Peace is providing, the direct flight to Jeddah as against using another foreign airline which has higher fares.”
The flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos via the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and landed at King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
However, the Saudi Arabian authorities announced that all the passengers’ visas had been cancelled, without giving any reason.
It was learnt that the Nigerian embassy intervened and the Saudi authorities reduced the number of passengers that would be returned to 177 from 264.
As of the time of filing this report, the airline was on its way to Nigeria with the 177 passengers that were denied entry; most of them going to perform lesser Hajj (Umrah).
Daily Trust reports that before the commencement of direct flight by Air Peace, Saudia, a Saudi Arabian flag carrier, had been operating directly from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government said it is investigating the cancellation of visas of 264 passengers who were airlifted to Jeddah from Lagos and Kano on Sunday by the Saudi Authorities.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Al-Kasim Abdulkadir, indicated that the Ministry is now investigating the matter to see if any consular or aviation rules have been flouted.
It added that Nigeria has just participated in the Saudi-Africa summit, where bilateral discussions covering several sectors of the economy and mutually beneficial commitments were made between the two countries.
Al-Kasim indicated that even though the passengers went through the Advanced Passengers Information System (APIS) during the check-in formalities in Nigeria, it was also monitored by the Saudi Authorities.
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