The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the reported visa cancellation against 264 Nigerians on arrival in Saudi Arabia on Monday.
While condemning the embarrassing act, the House has mandated its Committees on Foreign Affairs, Interior and Pilgrims Affairs to inquire into the immediate and remote circumstances surrounding the cancellation of already granted visas, and report back within two weeks.
The House has further urged the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to as a matter of urgency take such diplomatic steps as may be necessary to protect the image of the nation, ensure the full implementation of the BASA, protect Nigerian national Carriers flying into Saudi Arabia and as well protect the Nigerian travelling public.
This was fallout of motion jointly sponsored under matters of urgent public importance by Hon. Kama Nkemkanma, Hon. Olumide Osoba, Hon. Makki Yalleman and Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe.
The Saudi Arabian authorities reportedly cancelled the visa of all the 264 passengers airlifted by Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace, on arrival at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Monday November 13, 2023.
The lawmakers however argued 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.
“According to sources at the Nigerian Embassy in Jeddah, even the Saudi immigration personnel could not locate who authorized the cancellation of the visas, even when the APPS which was live between both countries was concluded and the airline was already airborne to Jeddah”, Nkemkanma who moved the motion recalled.
They said it was deeply worrisome that this unfortunate event and diplomatic slight on Nigeria happened even when the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is on a state visit to Saudi Arabia.
