The Federal Government of Nigeria has assured citizens living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Iran that their safety remains a priority as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East worsen. The assurance came from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), which said authorities are closely monitoring developments and are poised to take appropriate action to protect Nigerians abroad.
NiDCOM’s Director of Media and Public Relations, AbdurRahman Balogun, confirmed that, despite concerns over rising hostilities, including retaliatory drone and missile attacks in the Gulf region after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, the commission has not yet received any distress calls from Nigerians in Iran.
Balogun emphasized that while there may be Nigerians residing in these countries, none have officially reached out for evacuation assistance. He noted that international flights have been suspended in many parts of the region due to airspace closures over security concerns, making immediate evacuations impractical under the current conditions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also issued travel advice urging Nigerians in affected Gulf states to exercise caution, avoid strategic or government sites that could become flashpoints, and remain vigilant of their surroundings.
In its statement, the federal government reiterated that it is working with all relevant agencies to assess the situation and is prepared to support Nigerians abroad if circumstances change or if citizens formally request assistance. The government also reiterated its call for all parties involved in the conflict to pursue de escalation and diplomatic dialogue to prevent further loss of life and disruption.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department and other foreign diplomatic missions have issued evacuation warnings and “shelter in place” advisories for their citizens in the Gulf region as the conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran continues to unfold.
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