The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia has provided clarification regarding the visa cancellation and deportation of several Nigerian citizens upon their arrival in the Kingdom.
The embassy explained that the visas of 177 Air Peace passengers from Nigeria were revoked in Jeddah due to a violation of entry rules.
In a statement issued by the Saudi Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, it was asserted that the deported individuals had submitted inaccurate information to obtain a visa category that did not apply to them, a fact discovered upon their arrival.
Emphasizing the importance of adherence to the Kingdom’s rules, the embassy stated, “The Royal Embassy would like to stress the importance of following the procedures and laws enacted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for all visitors.”
The statement further indicated that this scrutiny of documentation applies not only to Nigerian citizens but also to citizens of other countries.
To recap, the Saudi government canceled the visas of 177 passengers from Air Peace on November 13, prompting their return to Nigeria.
While the reasons for visa cancellations were not initially provided by Saudi authorities, the Federal Government initiated an investigation into the matter, urging affected passengers to remain calm.
The probe involves both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia with the aim of resolving the issue.
Reports revealed that upon arrival in Jeddah, the Saudi Immigration authorities informed the passengers that their visas had been canceled, resulting in 177 passengers being repatriated, while 87 were allowed entry.
