By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Federal Government has appealed for calm, following the decision by Saudi Arabian authorities to jettison its diplomatic relations with Nigeria and cancelled visas of Nigerian travellers and deport them.
There is a trending report that the Saudi authority revoked the visa of 177 Nigerian travellers and forcefully made their return on the same flight back to Nigeria.
Reacting to the ugly diplomatic row between Nigeria and Saudi authorities, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement said, “The attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to media reports on the cancellation of the visas and subsequent deportation of passengers airlifted from Nigeria on Sunday, 12th November, 2023 to Saudi Arabia.
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“According to reports received from the Nigerian Consulate in Jeddah, Air Peace Flight No. P4-752 airlifted two hundred and 264 passengers from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and the Aminu Kano International Airport and landed at the King Abdulaziz International Airport – Hajj Terminal Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Monday, 13th November, 2023″.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Mrs Francisca Omayuli, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that it was on arrival at the Hajj Terminal that the Saudi Immigration authorities informed the passengers that their visas had been cancelled.
“Consequently, 177 passengers were made to return on the same flight back to Nigeria. While 87 passengers were cleared by immigration and allowed entry into Jeddah,” the statement further revealed.
FG said that the Saudi authorities are yet to give reasons for the cancellation of the visas, except for 18 of the passengers who were out rightly banned from Saudi Arabia for various offences committed in the past.
“Even though it is the prerogative of a sovereign nation to determine who is permitted entry into its territory, Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are traditional and strategic partners, who are willing to guard against a reoccurrence of this unfortunate incident,” the statement said.
The Foreign ministry however said that investigation is ongoing in both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
“The affected passengers are, therefore, implored to keep calm, while the matter is being resolved,” the statement added.
