Visa Cancellation: Expert Wants Government Support for Air Peace

The Federal Government has been urged to immediately wade into the circumstances that led to the cancellation of the visa of 264 passengers on Air Peace by the Saudi Authorities.

Shocked by the development, aviation expert, commentator and Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd) strongly believed the action of the Saudi Authorities is hinged on aero politics.

He suggested use of diplomacy and urged that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should step in immediately and intervene in the case.

Ojikutu said that what happened showed why it is important for the Nigerian government to stand strongly with any Nigerian carrier designated to operate international destinations.

According to him, Nigeria should designate Nigerian airlines approved to operate out of the country as flag carrier, noting that the United States has no national carrier but all the airlines are supported by the government and are designated as flag carriers.

He is firmly of the view that the action of the Saudi Authorities is shocking,noting that” There is aeropolitics there and there is also diplomacy. There is  the need for the Nigerian government to stand firmly with Nigerian carriers and also designate them as flag carriers; so that other countries will know that they represent Nigeria.”

“Government must come out and intervene. Government must be behind Air Peace now to ensure that it is not denied its rights as contained in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between the two countries.

“ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must not keep quiet. Nigeria must not keep quiet. Ideally, government is expected to stand behind any of the country’s airline that it designates to fly overseas”.