Saudi Arabian authorities have refused to grant over-flight permits to Nigerian cargo planes carrying military equipment including armoured tanks from Pakistan which Nigerian authorities have procured in order to fight the Boko Haram rebel group, media reported on Monday.
It may be recalled that IANS, quoting Pakistani officials in Abuja early this year, reported that Pakistan has pledged to support Nigeria in its fight against the Boko Haram.
ThisDay newspaper reported on Monday it had been informed by the country’s intelligence sources that the decision by the Saudi authorities was certain to cause a diplomatic row at a time when President Goodluck Jonathan was eager to end the insurgency in the country’s northeast before the 2015 general election due to be held in February.