Nigeria begins evacuation of citizens from Iran – NiDCOM

By Lawrence Agbo

The Federal Government has commenced the evacuation of willing Nigerians from Iran, escorting them across the Armenian border to ensure their safety as tensions escalate in parts of the Middle East.

The development was disclosed on Tuesday by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a post on her X handle.

According to her, officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the movement of Nigerians who wish to leave the country and are facilitating their safe passage into Armenia.

Dabiri-Erewa explained that embassy officials are also stationed at the border to receive and assist evacuees arriving from Iran.

“Willing Nigerians being escorted across the Armenian border by officials of the Nigerian embassy in Iran for safe passage. No Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the war as officials remain at the border to receive all who want to leave.” she wrote.

She added that no Nigerian in Iran has so far been affected by the ongoing hostilities.

The evacuation follows rising tensions in the region after coordinated military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel on February 28, which triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks across parts of the Middle East.

The situation has heightened concerns about the safety of foreign nationals residing in affected areas.

Dabiri-Erewa noted that while the Federal Government plans to conduct repatriation flights for Nigerians, the current security situation has made air travel unsafe.

“And as for repatriation flights, the skies are currently unsafe to fly. Luckily, a flight came in from the UAE to Lagos two days ago just before another strike and the closure of the airspace.”

She said the airspace in the region remains closed following renewed strikes, making immediate evacuation by air impossible.

However, she assured Nigerians in the Middle East that a multi-agency Federal Government team is on standby to begin evacuation flights once the airspace is reopened.

“Once the airspace opens, the multi-agency FG team on crisis and evacuation is on standby. Our prayers are with you and all our people in affected countries,” she added.