The Federal Government has commenced the evacuation of willing Nigerians from Iran, escorting them across the Armenian border to ensure their safety as tensions continue to escalate in parts of the Middle East.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a post on her X handle, said officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the movement of Nigerians who wish to leave the country and facilitating their safe passage into Armenia.
Dabiri-Erewa explained that embassy officials have also been stationed at the border to receive and assist evacuees arriving from Iran.
“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,” she stated.
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 although 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.
Dabiri-Erewa further disclosed that 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 commence evacuation flights once the airspace is reopened.
“Once the airspace opens, the multi-agency Federal Government team on crisis and evacuation is on standby. Our prayers are with you and all our people in affected countries,” she added.
