Saudi Arabia authorities have cancelled the visa of all the 264 passengers airlifted by Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace on arrival at the country from Kano.


They insisted that the airline should return them to Nigeria.


Vanguard gathered that the flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, via the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on Sunday night and arrived in Saudi Arabia’s major city, Jeddah, today without issues.

However, on landing, the Saudi Arabian authorities announced that all the passengers’ visas were cancelled.

A source who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that all the passengers and the airline personnel were shocked at the cancellation of the visas because during check the passengers went through the Advanced Passengers Prescreening System, APPS, which was also monitored by the Saudi Arabia authorities before the flight left Nigeria.

The source wondered whether what happened was a strategy to discourage the airline from operating to the destination because since it started the operation it has been recording a high load factor and even the flight expected to leave on Tuesday to Jeddah was already fully booked.

When the Nigerian embassy waded in Saudi authorities were said to have reduced the number of passengers that would be returned to 170 from 264.

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 a Nigerian carrier, it helps to conserve foreign exchange for the country.

A source from the Nigerian embassy in Jeddah said that even the Saudi immigration personnel said that they didn’t know who cancelled the visas but that they were cancelled when the airline was already airborne to Jeddah.


According to the source, “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.

“Those deported were 177 passengers and Air Peace has already left with them back to Nigeria. They are on their way to Nigeria now.”

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the sector have attributed the development to aeropolitics.

Stating that it is a way to force the Nigerian operator out of the route; unless the government intervenes, adopting the principle of reciprocity.

According to industry experts and the Chief Executive Officer, Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, Nigeria, Group Captain John Ojikutu, the action of the Saudis is aero politics and diplomacy.


He also requested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should step in immediately and intervene in the case.

He said that what happened showed why it is important for the Nigerian government to stand strongly with any Nigerian carrier designated to operate international destinations.

Ojikutu said that Nigeria should designate Nigerian airlines approved to operate out of the country as flag carriers, noting that the United States has no national carrier but all the airlines are supported by the government and are designated as flag carriers.

“The action of the Saudi Authorities is shocking. 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,” Ojikutu said.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/11/saudi-arabia-cancels-264-air-peace-passengers-visa-on-arrival/amp/

Saudi Arabia do not want to share the money they make from annual hajj travel.
Well, notable Nigerians will not care much anyway since the cancellation was done by an Islamic country, led by Arabs who are the gods of Nigerian Muslims.

Out of 264, 170 were returned las las.

Can we have the names of the 170?

From the names, it will be easier to deduce why exactly they were returned.

Britain was also resistant to Air Peace conducting flights to the UK, until the FG stepped in and threatened to stop British Airways flights to Nigeria.

Then they granted Air Peace landing rights just last month.

The truth is that all these countries are SCARED STIFF of Nigeria’s potential.

But they need to get with the program, because the rise of NIGERIA 🇳🇬 is unstoppable.

Kushites:
Britain was also resistant to Air Peace conducting flights to the UK.

All these countries are SCARED STIFF of Nigeria’s potential.

But they need to get with the program, because the rise of NIGERIA 🇳🇬 is unstoppable.

I'm sure there is a reason foreigners were resisting air peace.

It is somehow related to powder.

LeoDeKing:

I'm sure there is a reason foreigners were resisting air peace.

It is somehow related to powder.

Grow up.

Thief'nubu's foreign investment flow as he recently visited Saudi

“ 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,” Ojikutu said.

..for where..if wishes where horses.. the emilokan government will even sell Airpeace out to Saudi because of the owner is Igbo..

What a sad reality

LeoDeKing:
Out of 264, 170 were returned las las.

Can we have the names of the 170?

From the names, it will be easier to deduce why exactly they were returned.

Open Mouth.... Shit comes out

LeoDeKing:

I'm sure there is a reason foreigners were resisting air peace.

It is somehow related to powder.

Shits with his Mouth Talks with his Anus

LeoDeKing:
Out of 264, 170 were returned las las.

Can we have the names of the 170?

From the names, it will be easier to deduce why exactly they were returned.

Though, this is not their names but this one Below will make it easier for you to deduce why they were returned

By the time they mentioned their names, you'll be disappointed to hear that they are Yoruba Muslims

LeoDeKing:
Out of 264, 170 were returned las las.

Can we have the names of the 170?

From the names, it will be easier to deduce why exactly they were returned.

Bobloco:

😂

This forum sef.

So you guys are basically suggesting they rejected Igbo names on the list because of drugs?

I’m surprised you didn’t say it was out of fear of pro-Israel IPOB terrorists flying into the region to help Netanyahu!

Kushites:


Grow up.

That guy is a disgrace to humanity

See what our nation ve cause us??

Baba emilokan was in the news last week smiling during meeting with the Saudi Arabia Crown Prince; is this one of the outcomes

Saudi Arabia see Okoro, Ifeanyi... them fear for development

" Wetin Igbos dey find go Hajj" said Sheikh Prince Mohammed Bin Salam

This is indeed a shocking development.

You would expect better treatment from the Saudi Nation given this present government recent business meetings with Saudi business and the Royal Prince.

Who bears the cost for the return flights? I suppose Air Peace.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Aviation should be clarifying right away and engaging their counterparts on ensuring this never happens.

Everyone just want to cash out from Nigeria. Airpeace is cheaper na and they want Saudi Air. I hope our govt do something about this, so other countries will not try it.

EmeeNaka:
Saudi Arabia do not want to share the money they make from annual hajj travel.
Well, notable Nigerians will not care much anyway since the cancellation was done by an Islamic country, led by Arabs who are the gods of Nigerian Muslims.

Saudi is sick!

Sorry, at this moment we have to handle this with diplomacy. Saudi government is about to help us with forex and refinery technology support. Airpeace should calm down and expect government financial intervention while aunty Abike discuss with Saudi counter part.