The Saudi Arabian Embassy said on Wednesday that 177 Nigerian Air Peace passengers had their visas revoked upon arrival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, due to their non-compliance with the nation’s entry regulations.
The Federal Government announced on Tuesday that, in accordance with the information it received from the Nigerian Consulate in Jeddah, Air Peace Flight No. P4-752 airlifted 264 passengers on Monday, November 23, 2023, from the King Abdulaziz International Airport – Hajj Terminal Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and the Aminu Kano International Airport.
The Saudi Immigration authorities told the passengers that their visas had been cancelled upon their arrival at the Hajj Terminal.
As a result, 177 passengers were forced to return to Nigeria on the same aircraft, while 87 people were approved by Saudi immigration and permitted to enter Jeddah.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Saudi Embassy in Abuja defended the decision, claiming that the deported Nigerians provided inaccurate information in order to get a visa category that did not apply to them, which was uncovered upon their arrival.
According to the statement:
“The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja would like to make a clarification about the media reports and social media releases concerning the deportation of Nigerian citizens at the point of entry into the Kingdom.
“The passengers, who were denied entry, and subsequently deported to their initial destinations, did not fulfill the entry conditions and requirements in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the Kingdom, as they submitted incorrect information to obtain a category of visa that does not apply to them, which was discovered upon their arrival.”
The Royal Embassy emphasised the significance of all visitors adhering to the processes and rules imposed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, emphasising that “all passengers should review all the documents to determine their conformity with the conditions prior to departing from their countries to the Kingdom.”
“This procedure was not limited to Nigerian citizens only, but rather to citizens of other countries,” the statement added.
cc: Punch Ng
