The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia has clarified the visa cancellation of Air Peace passengers, stating that the visas were revoked because they failed to meet the entry requirements of the country.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the embassy explained that the passengers submitted incorrect information, which did not comply with the applicable rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia.
The incident occurred on Monday when 264 passengers on an Air Peace flight arrived in Jeddah but had their visas canceled by Saudi authorities.
The embassy revealed that the passengers had obtained a category of visa that did not apply to them, and the incorrect information was discovered upon their arrival.
Following the visa cancellation, 87 passengers were permitted to stay in Saudi Arabia, while the remaining 177 were flown back to Nigeria by Air Peace. The Saudi embassy emphasized the importance of adhering to the procedures and laws enacted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for all visitors, irrespective of their nationality.
The embassy’s statement read, “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. Furthermore, all passengers should review all the documents to determine their conformity with the conditions prior departing from their countries to the Kingdom.”
The clarification emphasized that the procedure applied to citizens of other countries and was not limited to Nigerian citizens alone.
