KEY POINTS
- FG says it is finalising administrative procedures and funds to begin evacuating Nigerians from the Middle East.
- Emirates has again suspended all Dubai flights, citing guidance from aviation authorities.
- Iran’s ambassador says Tehran will cooperate with Nigerian authorities to facilitate departures.
The Federal Government said Monday it is working out the administrative procedures and securing funds to begin evacuating Nigerians stranded across the Middle East, as the conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 continues to ripple through the region.
The Nigeria evacuation Middle East crisis response covers citizens in Iran, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar, where a combination of missile attacks, flight suspensions, and border complications has left hundreds of Nigerians unable to travel. Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed that arrangements were ongoing. “The government is working out the necessary administrative details and the release of funds to commence evacuation,” Ebienfa said.
Iran opens land borders, ambassador pledges cooperation
The ministry identified Nigerians in Iran and Israel as the most vulnerable. Getting people out of Iran carries particular logistical weight, involving transporting students from universities scattered across the country to the Armenian border and meeting entry conditions set by Armenian authorities. The government has explored deploying Nigerian Air Force aircraft, but the volatile airspace has complicated efforts to secure flight routes.
Iran’s ambassador to Nigeria, Gholamreza Raja, told The PUNCH on Monday that Tehran stood ready to help Nigerians leave. He said Iran’s land borders with neighbouring countries remained open and foreign nationals were already using those routes without difficulty.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to cooperate in facilitating the departure of Nigerian nationals if they wish to leave the country,” Raja said. He estimated that several hundred Nigerians live in Iran, many of them students on scholarship programmes at Iranian universities, though he noted the figure fluctuates because not all citizens register formally with the Nigerian embassy.
On the Qatar situation, Ebienfa said most Nigerians there were transit passengers whose connecting flights were disrupted rather than long-term residents. Qatar Airways resumed Lagos flights from Doha on Monday, and the ministry said that category of stranded traveller would largely clear within days. Additional flights through Cairo and Nairobi also carried some Nigerians home.
Emirates suspends Dubai flights again
The Nigeria evacuation Middle East crisis picture grew more complicated Monday when Emirates Airlines announced another suspension of all flights to and from Dubai, telling passengers to stay away from Dubai International Airport until further notice. The latest halt followed a directive from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority grounding all flights through the airport amid renewed tensions.
The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed its air defence systems had intercepted nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones on March 14 alone, and said its forces had engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and roughly 1,600 drones since hostilities began. Six people died and more than 140 sustained injuries in the most recent wave of attacks, with casualties drawn from more than two dozen countries including Nigeria.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed the Nigerian injured in the UAE attacks had since been treated and discharged. Emirates said it was working with aviation authorities to determine when safe operations could resume and urged passengers to monitor its website for updates.
