Dalena Reporters l Monday, March 2, 2026
ABUJA — As the U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict continues to disrupt travel and airspace across the Middle East, the Federal Government of Nigeria has indicated that it currently has no active evacuation operation for Nigerian citizens who may be stranded in the region — a situation that has left some travellers and expatriates facing uncertainty over their return home.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said early this week that it has not received any official distress calls from Nigerians in Iran or other Middle Eastern states seeking evacuation assistance, noting that no airline is flying into active conflict zones and that existing flight suspensions make immediate repatriation logistically impossible. Officials highlighted that international carriers have grounded routes due to the ongoing hostilities, meaning airspace closures are forcing stranded travellers to remain where they are until conditions improve or ceasefires allow safe travel corridors.
The commission clarified that unless affected Nigerians formally request help and conditions permit, Nigeria currently lacks a predetermined evacuation plan. Airspace over key conflict areas including parts of Iran and surrounding Gulf states — has been shut down, and with no national airline operating long-haul international flights, authorities say evacuation would require a ceasefire or humanitarian corridor before operations can be considered.
For now, the government has opted to issue travel advisories and safety guidance for citizens still in region, urging them to stay vigilant and avoid sensitive or military areas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has encouraged Nigerians in Iran and neighbouring Gulf countries to contact local Nigerian embassies or consulates for consular support — but stopped short of announcing a full-scale repatriation scheme.
The lack of a formal evacuation plan stands in contrast to past situations — such as earlier crises where Nigerian authorities finalised repatriation arrangements for citizens in conflict zones — but officials say the unique nature of the current Middle East conflict, with intense airspace restrictions and ongoing hostilities, complicates any outright evacuation effort unless safety conditions change.
Experts and community advocates have argued that Nigeria’s current approach is largely reactive rather than proactive, relying on affected individuals to reach out for assistance rather than initiating a government-led diaspora registration and extraction process. Observers note that several other countries have already taken steps to evacuate their nationals from the region, underlining the challenges Nigeria faces in coordinating similar operations at scale under intense airspace closures.
For many travellers — including students, professionals and expatriates caught amid flight cancellations and closed skies the government’s current stance means waiting for safer conditions or self-initiating travel out of the region where possible. As the situation in the Middle East remains fluid, officials say they continue to monitor developments closely and remain prepared to respond once evacuation becomes feasible under internationally accepted safety and diplomatic conditions.