177 Deported Nigerians Had Valid Visas Before Starting Trip To Saudi Arabia: Air Peace Chairman

Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyeama has clarified that all 177 passengers who were deported by Saudi Arabia earlier this week had valid visas while departing Nigeria.

Saudi Arabia on Monday denied entry to 177 Nigerians accusing them of violating the country's visa rules.

Onyeama said the airline did not break any rules and received "approval and clearance of every procedure required of it before taking off from Nigeria" to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, PremiumTimes reported.

Upon arrival at the Jeddah airport, Saudi immigration authorities informed 177 passengers that their visas were canceled. The remaining 87 passengers cleared the immigration process and were allowed to enter Jeddah.

Onyeama noted that the "visas were valid as of the time the airline was taking off," adding that they got "approval to fly the passengers through the Advanced Passenger Information System."

"The Nigerian government said it's carrying out an investigation. So let's allow the investigation to take place. I don't want to dwell on this. I want decorum and good diplomacy to prevail in this whole thing. I want justice and fairness, that's all," he added.

The Saudi Arabia embassy in Abuja clarified on Wednesday that the 177 passengers submitted incorrect information to get a particular category of visa that doesn't apply to them. It was reportedly discovered when they landed in Saudi Arabia.

Onyeama refused to comment on the accusation but said it was something "really unusual" as every protocol was followed.

"We are not in the business of issuing visas as an airline. Ours is to verify visas got clearance through the Advanced Passengers Information System (APIS) and we have done all that," he said.

He, however, pointed out that every country has the right to deny or allow entry despite issuing a visa.

"In this case, the Saudi Arabian embassy is not denying that the passengers had visas as of the time of leaving Nigeria. However, they are saying that they discovered that the passengers gave incorrect information in obtaining the visas. By this information, the embassy is inadvertently exonerating Air Peace," the executive explained.

Onyeama clarified that the airline had no issues with the Saudi government as Air Peace is very used to the Gulf nation's air space.

"In fact, the Saudis didn't waste any time to give us all necessary permits to operate directly to the Kingdom," he added. "Saudi authorities have been very cooperative with air peace and they like the way we performed successfully during the Hajj season."