The Saudi Arabian Authorities on Saturday cancelled the visa of all the 264 passengers airlifted to the Jeddah from Lagos and Kano on Sunday by Air Peace airline.
Besides, the authorities insisted that the airline return them back to Nigeria.
The flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos via the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on Sunday night and landed at King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
But the Saudi Arabian authorities announced that all the passengers’ visas had been cancelled.
This was despite the fact that the passengers went through the Advanced Passengers Information System (APIS) during the check-in formalities in Nigeria which was also monitored by the Saudi authorities.
It however took the intervention of the Nigerian embassy for the Saudi authorities to allow 87 of the passangers into their country, while it insisted that the remaining 177 passengers be returned back to Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, the Airline was on its way to Nigeria with the 177 passengers that were denied entry; majority of them going to perform lesser Hajj (Umrah).
This is coming barely two weeks that Air Peace launched a direct flight to Jeddah.
Prior to the commencement of direct flight, Saudia, a Saudi Arabian flag carrier, has been operating directly from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia.
No reason has been given for the action of the Saudi authorities.
The passengers were said to have been duly issued the visa and went through the advanced passenger information system which is accessible to both authorities in Lagos and Jeddah.
