Reps to probe visa cancellation of Air Peace passengers in Saudi Arabia

The house of representatives, on Tuesday, launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of visas of 264 passengers aboard Air Peace’s airline by Saudi authorities.

This followed the adoption of a motion jointly sponsored by Kama Nkemkanma, Labour Party member representing Ebonyi and three other lawmakers during plenary in Abuja.

On Monday, a flight, which took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, via the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, on Sunday night, was said to have arrived in Jeddah.

Upon their arrival, the Middle Eastern nation asked the airline to return the 264 passengers to Nigeria, citing that all their visas were cancelled — later Saudi authorities allowed 87 passengers to remain.

In a motion, Nkemkanma expressed displeasure over the development.

He asked that the federal government adopt the principle of reciprocity.

“The house is aware that all the passengers went through the advanced passengers pre-screening system (APPS), which was also monitored live by the Saudi Arabia authorities before the flight left Nigeria,” the lawmaker said.

“The house is worried because according to sources at the Nigerian embassy in Jeddah, even the Saudi immigration personnel could not locate who authorised the cancellation of the visas.”

He said this happened even when the APPS which was live between both countries was concluded and the airline was already airborne to Jeddah.

Nkemkanma condemned the decision by Saudi authorities.

To protect the image of the nation, the house, after adopting the motion, urged the federal government to urgently take diplomatic steps as may be necessary.

The lawmakers said FG should protect Nigerian national carriers flying into Saudi Arabia and the Nigerian travelling public by ensuring full implementation of the bilateral air service agreement (BASA).

The house mandated the joint committees on foreign affairs, interior and pilgrims affairs to inquire into the immediate and remote circumstances surrounding the cancellation and to report back within two weeks.