Dare Babalola
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has denied reports that it said no Nigerians were crying out for help from the Middle East crisis, saying actually, some citizens abroad have been reaching out.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, through its media director Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said on X that the claim going round was not true.
“The attention of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has been drawn to a statement credited to the Commission Spokesman, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, that there are no distress calls from Nigerians stranded in the Middle East due to the ongoing crisis in the region. I never issued such a statement,” the statement read.
Balogun clarified that, contrary to the report, the commission had received enquiries from Nigerians in parts of the Gulf and Iran regarding possible evacuation plans.
“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,” he stated.
The clarification comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East following military strikes carried out on February 28, 2026, by the United States and Israel in Iran.
The strikes reportedly led to the killing of several Iranian leaders, with Iranian state media confirming early on March 1 that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed, prompting a declaration of 40 days of mourning and a seven-day national holiday.
As hostilities escalated, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria announced flight disruptions to several Middle East destinations due to airspace closures triggered by the strikes.
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a security advisory to Nigerians residing in Iran and neighbouring Gulf countries, urging caution.
No fewer than 560 passengers travelling from Nigeria have since been stranded following widespread airspace closures across parts of the region.
The affected travellers, many of whom had checked in with luggage and arrived at airports last Saturday for outbound international flights, were left grounded after several countries shut their airspace amid missile exchanges and heightened military tensions.
Some passengers were scheduled to fly with Qatar Airways and Emirates through Middle Eastern hubs before operations were abruptly halted.
Addressing concerns over the safety of Nigerians abroad, NIDCOM stressed that the Federal Government was closely monitoring developments and coordinating with relevant authorities.
“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,” the statement said.
It added, “Nigerians in affected countries should be assured that the federal government is monitoring the situation and would take necessary steps to ensure no Nigerian life is endangered.”
