Saudi Arabia Reveals Why Visas Of 177 Nigerians Was Cancelled

The Embassy of Saudi Arabia has explained why the visas of 177 passengers from Nigeria upon arrival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia weas cancelled.

According to a statement, they violated the country’s entry rules.

The statement from the Embassy on Wednesday, the deported Nigerians submitted incorrect information to obtain a category of visa that does not apply to them, which was discovered upon their arrival.

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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 whom 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, as they submitted incorrect information to obtain a category of visa that does not apply to them, which was discovered upon their arrival,” the statement said.

The Federal Government had on Tuesday noted that according to reports it received from the Nigerian Consulate in Jeddah, Air Peace Flight No. P4-752 airlifted 264 passengers from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and the Aminu Kano International Airport and landed at the King Abdulaziz International Airport – Hajj Terminal Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Monday, November 23, 2023.

It was on arrival at the Hajj terminal that the Saudi Immigration authorities informed the passengers that their visas had been cancelled.

Consequently, 177 passengers were made to return on the same flight back to Nigeria while 87 passengers were cleared by immigration and allowed entry into Jeddah.