The Nigerian government has disclosed that 18 out of the 177 passengers deported from Saudi Arabia were banned outrightly due to past criminal offenses. The revelation follows the sudden cancellation of visas for 264 passengers aboard Air Peace, sparking investigations by the House of Representatives.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Saudi Immigration authorities canceled the visas upon arrival at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. While 87 passengers were allowed entry, the reasons for the withdrawal of visas from the remaining 159 are yet unknown.
The House of Representatives has initiated an investigation into the matter, expressing concern over the infringement on the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. Lawmakers condemned the cancellation of visas and urged the federal government to take diplomatic steps to protect the nation's image, ensure BASA implementation, and safeguard Nigerian carriers and travelers.
