Federal Government of Nigeria revealed its commencement into the investigations of the visa cancellations of 264 passengers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The investigation which commenced on Monday entails the sad occasion of Nigerian passengers who were airlifted from Lagos and Kano to Jeddah on Sunday.
The said flight departed from 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.
To greatest shock of the passengers and airline staff, the Saudi Arabian authorities announced that all the passengers’ visas had been cancelled.
Even though the passengers had gone through the Advanced Passengers Information System during the check-in formalities in Nigeria, which was also monitored by the Saudi authorities, the situation could not be helped.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, AlKasim Abdulkadir, has come out to say that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now scrutinizing the matter to see if any consular or aviation rules may have been flouted.
He revealed this in a statement revealed to his media aide which reads, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is investigating the matter to see if any consular or aviation rules have been flouted.
“The Ministry will ensure such actions that impact the welfare of Nigerian citizens are mitigated in the future in line with the 4Ds strategy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Nigeria has just participated in the Saudi-Africa Summit where bilateral discussions covering several sectors of the economy and mutually beneficial commitments were made.”
