The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced it is finalizing emergency evacuation plans for Nigerian nationals stranded in Israel and Iran as military tensions between the two Middle Eastern nations continue to intensify.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed on Tuesday that Nigerian embassies in both Tel Aviv and Tehran have already begun contacting affected citizens and coordinating evacuation logistics in response to the deteriorating security situation.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that following the escalation of the crisis between the State of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Federal Government is finalising arrangements for the emergency evacuation of stranded Nigerians in both countries,” said Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued late Tuesday.
The evacuation preparations come after Israel launched a devastating air campaign on Friday, reportedly striking nearly 100 targets across Iranian territory. The attacks are believed to have resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian military officials, including General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and Hossein Salami, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The Israeli strikes have prompted fierce condemnation from Iran’s leadership, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denouncing the attacks as a “declaration of war” and threatening a “bitter and painful” retaliation. Iranian military commanders have also vowed an “unlimited” response to the assault.
As tensions reach critical levels, the Nigerian government has urged its citizens in the affected regions to exercise caution and cooperate with evacuation efforts. The ministry advised Nigerians to “remain calm, adhere strictly to local security advisories, and register with the nearest Nigerian mission for updates and evacuation plans.”
The Foreign Affairs Ministry praised the work of diplomatic missions in both countries during the crisis. “The Ministry commends the efforts put in place by our Missions in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Tehran, Iran, for their dedication and commitment to reaching out to the Nigerian community in these difficult times,” Ebienfa stated.
Officials assured that the evacuation process would be conducted safely through coordination with international partners and local authorities. The government emphasized it was working to ensure a “safe and orderly evacuation process” for all affected Nigerian nationals.
Beyond the immediate evacuation concerns, Nigeria has also renewed its diplomatic calls for de-escalation in the region. “Nigeria reiterates its call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and urges all parties involved to embrace dialogue, respect international humanitarian law and prioritise the protection of civilians,” the ministry’s statement declared.
The evacuation announcement underscores the Nigerian government’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad as the Israel-Iran conflict threatens to expand into a broader regional war that could endanger civilian populations across the Middle East.
Nigerian authorities have not disclosed the exact number of citizens requiring evacuation from either country, but the coordinated response through both embassies suggests a significant population of Nigerians may be affected by the ongoing crisis.
