Saudi Arabian authorities have revoked the visas of 264 Nigerian passengers transported by Air Peace upon their arrival in Jeddah from Kano.
Despite the advanced passengers pre-screening system (APPS) being in place and monitored by Saudi authorities before departure, the unexpected visa cancellations shocked both passengers and airline personnel.
The incident has raised concerns about potential motives, with speculation that it might be an attempt to discourage Air Peace from continuing its operations on the route.
A source said that Air Peace has been experiencing high demand, offering relatively lower fares and contributing to the conservation of foreign exchange for Nigeria.
“Saudi Air has been operating directly from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia and since Air Peace started flight service to the Middle East nation at relatively lower fares, it has been receiving high patronage and as Nigerian carrier, it helps to conserve foreign exchange for the country,” the source said.
A source at the Nigerian embassy in Jeddah, said Saudi immigration personnel are unaware of who cancelled the visas, noting that the airline was already airborne to Jeddah when the passengers’ travel documents were voided.
“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,” the source said.
Following the visa cancellations, the Nigerian embassy intervened, prompting Saudi authorities to reduce the number of passengers to be returned from 264 to 177. The airline, Air Peace, is in the process of repatriating the affected 177 passengers back to Nigeria.
John Ojikutu, CEO of Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, suggested that the Saudi authorities’ action is influenced by geopolitics.
He recommended that the Nigerian government designate domestic airlines with foreign operations as flag carriers, asserting the country’s support for its carriers in international matters.
Ojikutu said, “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.”
The development has triggered mixed reactions among Nigerians considering that it happened at a time when President Bola Tinubu visited Saudi Arabia for a summit before proceeding for lesser Hajj at the end of the summit.
See some reactions below:
https://twiiter.com/firstladyship/status/1724311291249213916?s=20
THE CANCELLATION OF VISA OF NIGERIANS BY SAUDI ARABIA GOVERNMENT IS THE BEGINNING!
The cancellation of 177 Nigerian passengers aboard air peace by Saudi Arabia is the beginning of more nightmare for Nigerians.
The people were denied entry after landing despite their valid… pic.twitter.com/tX82zRBbAd
— Franklin Ekechukwu (@Frankekechukwu) November 14, 2023
Air peace was carrying Igbo people to Saudi Arabia that is why Saudi Arabia cancelled the visa of about 264 of them! To imagine that they were going through Air peace owned by an Igbo man. What even made those Igbo men go to Jeddah?
— H I I K Y A A T O R (@HiikyaaTor) November 14, 2023
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will revamp Nigeria’s refineries & give Nigeria the foreign currencies to stabilize the Naira as well.”
Then 3 days later, the Saudis slam Nigerians with a Visa Ban, while Tinubu is still in their country. This is classic see finish, no respect for… pic.twitter.com/QrHt3zmAJX
— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) November 13, 2023
I thought they said the Saudi’s were our best friends some days ago but why the Airpeace incident
— oseni rufai (@ruffydfire) November 14, 2023
Tinubu went to Dubai, they banned Nigerians from obtaining visas.
He went to Saudi Arabia, the revoked visas of Nigerians on Arrival.
Please sir don’t go to Canada.
I know you are Kweku the traveler, you can branch to Palestine.
— Revolutionary Youth! (@torty_mercy) November 13, 2023
NIGERIANS ARE BEING PUNISHED ANYWHERE HE GOES! He went to UAE they extended our visa ban.He went to America, they warned their citizens against lodging in our hotels. He went to Saudi, they revoked over 200 visas in a day and I learnt he may go to Canada soon, we need to pray! pic.twitter.com/pSTaEwpSt2
— BUCOS (@TENIBEGILOJU202) November 13, 2023
Tinubu visits US:
US warns citizens not come to Nigeria!
Tinubu Visits UAE:
UAE ignores Nigeria Visa Ban, leaves Nigeria on Ban list!
Tinubu Visits Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia Cancels Visa Of 264 Nigerians
Tinubu is bad luck for Nigeria🤦🏽♂️- @TimiBlaze pic.twitter.com/wIG8iqO4Ou
— Hon. Rilwan (@rilwan_ola01) November 13, 2023
HISTORY; 😭
Tinubu went to Dubai, they banned Nigerians from obtaining visas.
He went to America, the U.S Issued travel alert to Their citizens travelling to Nigeria.
He met the German Chancellor, now they are deporting 14,000 Nigerians.
He went to Saudi Arabia, the revoked…
— udemezue jr. (@UdemezuePrince) November 14, 2023
2 or 3 days your president travelled to Saudi Arabia and I believe he’s still there. Today Saudi Arabia cancel 264 visas of Nigerians who travelled to Saudi Arabia… If he like make he visit Joe Biden of America, these leaders who respect democracy will never rate him.
— Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed (STAN) #ObiDatti2023 (@Naija_Activist) November 13, 2023
KanyiDaily recalls that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had also directed all foreign airlines not to bring Nigerians to Dubai due to the recent diplomatic row between each country’s flag carriers, Air Peace Airline, and Emirates Airline.
