Nigeria Begins Evacuation of Citizens from Iran Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions

By Danielle Harper Coleman

The Nigerian government has begun evacuating its citizens from Iran, escorting willing nationals across the border into Armenia as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.

The evacuation effort follows the growing regional crisis that erupted on February 28 after coordinated military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, which triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks across parts of the region.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed the development in a post shared on her X account on Tuesday.

According to her, officials at the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the evacuation process for Nigerians who wish to leave the country and are facilitating their safe passage to Armenia.

She also reassured the public that no Nigerian in Iran has so far been affected by the conflict.

“Willing Nigerians are 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,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.

Airspace Still Unsafe

While evacuation by land is currently underway, authorities say repatriation flights cannot begin yet due to security concerns in the region’s airspace.

Dabiri-Erewa explained that the situation remains volatile, making it unsafe for aircraft operations.

However, she noted that a flight from the United Arab Emirates arrived safely in Lagos shortly before the most recent wave of strikes and the subsequent closure of regional airspace.

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.

Government on Standby

The NiDCOM chair added that a multi-agency Federal Government crisis response team is on standby to begin evacuation flights once the airspace reopens.

The team is expected to coordinate the safe return of Nigerians not only in Iran but also in other affected countries across the region.

The evacuation effort comes amid rising concerns over the safety of foreign nationals living in areas impacted by the ongoing conflict.

Dabiri-Erewa assured Nigerians abroad that the government remains committed to ensuring their safety.

“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.

As tensions continue to rise across the Middle East, Nigerian authorities say they will continue monitoring the situation closely while prioritizing the safety of citizens abroad.