Just In : FG Takes Strong Action As Saudi Arabia Cancels 264 Nigerian Passengers’ Visas In Jeddah
On Monday, the Federal Government disclosed that it is looking into the cancellation of visas for 264 Nigerian passengers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
These passengers had been transported from Lagos and Kano on a flight that departed from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, via the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Sunday night, ultimately landing at King Abdul-Aziz International Airport in Jeddah.
To the surprise of airline staff, Saudi Arabian authorities declared the cancellation of all passengers’ visas upon arrival. Notably, the passengers had undergone the Advanced Passengers Information System during check-in procedures in Nigeria, which was also monitored by Saudi authorities.
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through a statement by the media aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, AlKasim Abdulkadir, announced an ongoing investigation into the matter. The objective is to ascertain whether any consular or aviation regulations were violated during the incident.
The statement said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is investigating the matter to see if any consular or aviation rules have been flouted.
“The Ministry will ensure such actions that impact the welfare of Nigerian citizens are mitigated in the future in line with the 4Ds strategy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Nigeria has just participated in the Saudi-Africa Summit where bilateral discussions covering several sectors of the economy and mutually beneficial commitments were made.”
