Saudi Arabia Explains 177 Cancelled Visas for Nigerian Passengers: They submitted Wrong Information

Phot Credit:

@KSAembassyNG on X

On Monday, November 13, 2023, the Saudi Arabian government took the unprecedented step of canceling the visas of 177 passengers out of a total of 264 who had been airlifted from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Aminu Kano International Airport via Air Peace Flight No. P4-752. The unexpected turn of events unfolded upon the flight's arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport (Hajj Terminal Jeddah).

Upon landing, Saudi immigration authorities informed the 177 affected passengers that their visas had been invalidated, subsequently denying them entry into the kingdom. Consequently, these individuals were promptly placed on the same flight for a return journey to Nigeria, while the remaining passengers were allowed entry into Jeddah.

In an attempt to provide clarity on the incident, the Saudi embassy released a statement on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. The embassy explained that the deported Nigerians had provided incorrect information to obtain a visa category for which they were not eligible. This discrepancy came to light upon their arrival in Saudi Arabia.

“The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja would like to make a clarification about the media reports and social media releases concerning the deportation of Nigerian citizens at the point of entry into the Kingdom. The passengers who were denied entry and subsequently deported to their initial destinations did not fulfill the entry conditions and requirements in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the Kingdom,” the statement highlighted.

The embassy stressed the importance of strict adherence to procedures and laws established by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for all visitors. It further urged all passengers, not limited to Nigerian citizens, to thoroughly review their documents for compliance with entry conditions before departing for the Kingdom.

In response to the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, announcing an ongoing investigation. The objective is to identify any potential violations of consular or aviation rules during the process.

#Statement from the Royal Embassy of #Saudi_Arabia to the Federal Republic of #Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/deDvl5cYDL
— السفارة في أبوجا (@KSAembassyNG) November 15, 2023