The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia has addressed media reports regarding the deportation of 264 Nigerians upon their entry into the Kingdom, emphasising that the action was not specifically targeting Nigerians.
On Monday, News About Nigeria reported that the Saudi Arabian government revoked the visas of all 264 passengers flown in by Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace, upon their arrival in the country from Kano.
The Saudi authorities insisted on their return to Nigeria, citing non-compliance with entry conditions and requirements.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Saudi Embassy stated, “The passengers who were denied entry and subsequently deported to their initial destinations didn’t fulfil the entry conditions and requirements in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the Kingdom.”
The embassy clarified that this procedure was not exclusive to Nigerian citizens but applied to citizens of other countries as well.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that it is investigating the matter to determine if any consular or aviation rules were violated.
The ministry aims to mitigate such actions affecting the welfare of Nigerian citizens in the future, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Four Ds strategy.
The Royal Saudi Embassy issued cautionary measures for prospective visitors to the Arabian Peninsula, emphasising the importance of adhering to the procedures and laws established by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The statement urged all passengers to review their documents to ensure conformity with the conditions before departing from their respective countries to the Kingdom.
“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,” it also read.
“Furthermore, all passengers should review all the documents to determine their conformity with the conditions before departing from their countries to the Kingdom.”
