The aviation and diplomatic circles in Nigeria were left in shock as Saudi Arabia unexpectedly canceled the visa on arrival for 264 Nigerian passengers who arrived in Jeddah via Air Peace, a prominent Nigerian carrier. This sudden decision by the Saudi Arabian government has raised speculation about potential aero-political motives and has led to calls for intervention by the Nigerian government to protect the airline and passengers.
The flight, operated by Air Peace, took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and made a stopover at the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano before arriving in Jeddah without any issues.
Upon landing in Jeddah, Saudi authorities announced the cancellation of the visas for all 264 passengers. Despite the intervention of the Nigerian embassy in Saudi Arabia, the visas of 177 Nigerians were still canceled, leading to their repatriation back to Nigeria.
Advanced Passenger Prescreening System: The passengers had undergone thorough screening at both the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the Kano Airport, and their visas were duly issued and approved through the advanced passenger information system.
There are suspicions that the visa cancellation may be a strategy to frustrate Air Peace and discourage the Nigerian carrier from operating the direct flight to Jeddah, as it offers lower fares compared to other foreign airlines.
Aviation experts and industry observers have called on the Nigerian government to intervene and protect Air Peace and the affected passengers. They emphasize the importance of standing firmly with Nigerian carriers designated to operate international destinations.