FG plan to evacuates 1000 Nigerians from Iran
FG plan to evacuates 1000 Nigerians from Iran
The Federal Government has begun plans to evacuate about 1,000 Nigerians currently stranded in Iran following the growing conflict in the Middle East.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, revealed that most of the affected Nigerians are students studying in Iran. He said the government is already putting measures in place to bring them home safely.
According to him, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an inter-ministerial meeting on Friday to finalise arrangements for the evacuation. The plan is to move Nigerians out of Iran through Armenia as part of the rescue operation.
Ebienfa said the government is committed to protecting its citizens abroad and will continue to monitor the situation closely as tensions in the region rise.
The crisis intensified after the United States and Israel carried out coordinated military strikes against Iran last Saturday. The attacks were described by both countries as pre-emptive operations targeting Iranian military facilities and infrastructure linked to its nuclear and missile programmes.
During the first phase of the strikes, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was reportedly killed. The attacks also hit several military and leadership facilities across the country.
Iran later responded with retaliatory attacks targeting United States military bases and installations in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The strikes triggered air defence systems across the region, forced temporary airspace closures, and led to reports of civilian casualties.
The conflict has caused explosions and military activities across several countries including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, and Israel.
As the situation worsened, the Nigerian government earlier announced the immediate suspension of all pilgrimages to Israel for safety reasons.
The government also issued a travel advisory urging Nigerians living in Iran and nearby Gulf countries to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary movement, and follow safety instructions from local authorities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that it is in constant contact with Nigerian missions across the Gulf region and is working with international partners to ensure the safety of Nigerians abroad.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait, which also oversees Bahrain, has advised Nigerians in both countries to stay alert and strictly follow all safety guidelines issued by authorities.
