As bombs continue to fall across the Middle East for the fourth consecutive day, the Nigerian government says it has not received any distress calls from Nigerians currently residing in Iran.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, confirmed this on Monday through its Director of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, who was careful to clarify that the absence of distress calls does not mean there are no Nigerians in the country. “I’m not saying there are no Nigerians there, I’m only saying nobody has sent any distress call,” he stated.
On the question of evacuation, Balogun was direct when he said it is currently impossible. With all international flights into and out of Iran suspended due to active hostilities, no airline is willing to operate in the conflict zone. “You cannot fly where bombs are going up and down. No airline will fly,” he said, adding that the disruption affects all foreign nationals, not just Nigerians. He noted that the only realistic window for evacuation would be a temporary ceasefire long enough to allow stranded individuals to reach airports safely. “There may be ceasefire for two or three days to allow people who are stranded at the airport to be evacuated. That has not been done,” he said.
When asked how many Nigerians are currently in Iran, Balogun said NiDCOM does not have that data and directed the inquiry to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which oversees Nigeria’s embassies abroad. He also confirmed that Nigeria currently has no national carrier operating international routes, making any government-coordinated airlift dependent on chartering or leasing aircraft. “Which Nigerian airline? We don’t have one now,” he noted.
Balogun explained that Nigerians in Iran typically travel there as private individuals, usually connecting through countries like the UAE or Greece. He stressed that for the government to activate an evacuation plan, affected Nigerians must formally request assistance and confirm their willingness to return home. “You cannot force them. People went there voluntarily. So people must seek for help and say, our lives are in danger, can you evacuate us?” he said. He however assured that if such a request is made, the Federal Government would find a way to respond. “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,” he said.
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier issued an urgent advisory to Nigerians in Iran and neighbouring Gulf countries, urging them to exercise heightened caution, avoid areas near military or government installations, and follow all local safety protocols.
Meanwhile the broader situation in Nigeria continues to reflect the tension the war is generating. Anti-war protesters marched through the Maryland area of Lagos on Monday chanting against US and Israeli military intervention, while Shi’ite groups had earlier staged demonstrations in Kano, Sokoto, Gombe, Kaduna, Bauchi and Yobe states following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the weekend.
