The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to urgently investigate the killing of a Nigerian medical student in the Philippines, Chibuikem Emmanuel, to ascertain the true circumstances of his death.
The resolution was a sequel to the adoption of a motion on urgent public importance brought before the House in plenary by a member representing Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa Federal Constituency, Osun State, Hon. Mudashiru Lukman.
Leading the debate, the lawmaker informed the House that Emmanuel was until his death, a postgraduate student in the Faculty of Medicine in the Philippines.
Emmanuel was reportedly killed last October in Mandaue City, with the Philippines National Police promptly charging six Chinese nationals for alleged complicity in the death of the promising Nigerian.
According to Lukman, the deceased went to collect money owed him by his Chinese girlfriend and after a minor disagreement, he was whisked away by men in a van, only to be returned not responding.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House called on its Committees on Foreign Affairs and Human Rights, as well as that on Diaspora to investigate the matter.
In a related development, the House urged the Federal Government 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”.
It also mandated its Committee on Foreign Affairs, Interior and Pilgrims Affairs to inquire into the immediate and remote circumstances surrounding the cancellation of already granted visas to 264 Nigerians on arrival at Jeddah aboard Air Peace and to report back within two weeks.
This followed the adoption of a motion on public national importance co-sponsored by Kama Nkemkanma, Olumide Osoba, Makki Yalleman and Tolulope Akande-Sadipe.
Leading the debate on the motion “An urgent call for an enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of visas of 264 passengers aboard Air Peace from Nigeria on Arrival at Saudi Arabia” Nkemkanma informed the House that Saudi Arabian authorities cancelled the visas 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, 13th November 2023.
The House, he said, was “Aware that all the passengers went through the Advanced Passengers Pre-screening System, which was also monitored live by the Saudi Arabia authorities before the flight left Nigeria.”
He also noted that the House is worried that “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.”
He noted that “Upon the intervention of the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi, the authorities were said to have reduced the number of passengers that would be returned to Nigeria from 264 to 170;
“Aware also that Saudi Air has been operating directly from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia and that Air Peace has been receiving high patronage and as a Nigerian carrier since it started flight service to the Saudi at relatively lower fares, thereby helping Nigeria to conserve foreign exchange;
“Disturbed that stakeholders in the sector have attributed the development to aero-politics, stating that it could be a way to force the Nigerian operator out of the route, and raised concerns that Nigerian carries could be forced out of the route unless the government intervenes, probably using the principle of reciprocity;
“Conscious of the fact that this action of Saudi authorities is an infringement on the letters and intendments of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia which is still in force.
The House further expressed worry “That this unfortunate event and diplomatic slight on Nigeria happened even when the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu was on a state visit to Saudi Arabia”.
