Lagos – The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed that, as of yesterday, it has not received any distress calls from Nigerian nationals residing in Iran, despite escalating hostilities between Iran, the United States, and its ally, Israel.
Director of Media and Public Relations at NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, stated in a telephone interview with Vanguard that while Nigerians may be present in the region, none have officially sought the commission’s assistance.
“I’m not saying there are no Nigerians there, only that nobody has sent a distress call,” Balogun said. He added that flight cancellations to the region reflect the risks posed by active conflict zones, explaining that “no airline will fly where bombs are going off.”
The commission indicated that evacuation measures could be arranged if Nigerians formally request help and express readiness to return home. “People went there voluntarily. In cases like Sudan and Ukraine, some initially refused to leave. Once a request is made, the government can mobilize emergency measures, including chartering aircraft,” he said.
NiDCOM further noted that Nigerians traveling to Iran typically do so as private individuals, often via transit hubs such as the United Arab Emirates or Greece. The commission currently does not have data on the number of Nigerians potentially affected in Iran, and advised inquiries be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely. Spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said the ministry is considering evacuation options once conditions in the region stabilize.
The developments coincide with heightened unrest locally and internationally. Yesterday, dozens of protesters in Lagos’ Maryland area rallied against U.S. and Israeli interventions in sovereign nations, while Shi’ite groups staged protests across Kano, Sokoto, Gombe, Niger, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Yobe states following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The conflict has further escalated in the Middle East, with Lebanon-based Hezbollah targeting a British air base in Cyprus. This has contributed to a surge in Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude oil price to $80 per barrel, up from $70 on Sunday—the highest since July 2025.
Balogun reiterated that the protection of Nigerians abroad remains a key responsibility of the Federal Government, in line with its citizen diplomacy policy. “If any Nigerian’s life is in danger and a distress call is received, the government will explore all available options to ensure their safe return,” he affirmed.
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