Some Nigerians seek evacuation amid Middle East crisis – FG

2026-03-03 - 17:18

By Nkiruka Nnorom The Federal Government has walked back on its earlier claims that Nigerians caught up in the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war in the Middle East have not reached out for assistance, clarifying that few stranded people have called to enquire about preparation for possible evacuation. The Federal Government had through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, told Vanguard that the Commission had not received any distress from Nigerians in Iran. Responding to Vanguard inquiries via a telephone conversation, Monday, the Commission’s Spokesperson, Adur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols at NIDCOM, said that though Nigerians may be stranded in Iran, but none has officially reached out to the commission for assistance. “I’m not saying there are no Nigerians there, I’m only saying nobody has sent any distress call.”he clarified. “You cannot fly where bombs are going up and down. No airline will fly,” he said, adding that the situation affects all nationals, not just Nigerians. Speaking on the possibility of activating a full evacuation plan, Balogun said certain conditions must be met before the Federal Government can intervene. “You cannot force them. People went there voluntarily. In Sudan and Ukraine, some initially said they were not leaving. So people must seek for help and say, ‘Our lives are in danger, can you evacuate us?’” “If the life of any Nigerian is in danger and it reaches out to us, the Federal Government will look for a way out. Even if we don’t have an aircraft, we can lease or hire for that operation. “As far as I know, I’m not aware that anybody has sent a distress call,” Balogun said. But in a statement issued yesterday, he denied issuing statement, saying that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was working with other relevant agencies for appropriate steps to take in helping Nigerians stranded in the qar-torn region. He assured the federal government would take necessary steps to ensure that no life is lost. The statement titled, “Re : Middle East Crisis: No distress calls yet from Nigerians in Iran”, reads: “The attention of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has been drawn to a statement credited to the Commission Spokesman, Abdur-Rahman Balogun that there are no distress calls from Nigerians stranded in Middle East due to the ongoing crisis in the region. I never issued such statement. ‘On the contrary, the Commission has actually received calls from a few Nigerians in Qatar, UAE, and Iran enquiring about preparations for evacuations when it becomes necessary. “The fact of the matter is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with all relevant agencies for appropriate steps while appealing to Nigerians in the affected countries to follow the travel advice as issued by the Ministry of foreign affairs and contact the emergency numbers provided by the ministry. “Nigerians in affected countries should be rest assured that the federal government is monitoring the situation and would take necessary steps to ensure no Nigerian life is endangered.”