The Federal Government says it is finalising plans to evacuate Nigerians stranded in parts of the Middle East as tensions in the region continue to rise.
The crisis, linked to attacks involving Iran, has disrupted flights and raised safety concerns across several countries, including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the government is working on logistics and funding to begin the evacuation.
“The government is working out the necessary administrative details and the release of funds to commence evacuation,” he said.
Officials say priority is being given to Nigerians in high-risk areas, especially those in Iran and Israel, where movement has become difficult.
The ministry said evacuating Nigerians from Iran presents major challenges. These include transporting students from different cities to the Armenian border and meeting entry rules set by authorities there.
The government is also exploring options such as deploying military aircraft, though security concerns have limited access to airspace.
Meanwhile, some stranded Nigerians in Qatar are already returning home. Authorities confirmed that Qatar Airways has resumed flights, with a service from Doha to Lagos operating on Monday.
Regional tensions escalated after joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran in late February.
The situation has led to repeated attacks across the region. The UAE said its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones in recent days, with casualties reported among residents and foreign workers.
Iran’s ambassador to Nigeria, Gholamreza Raja, said his government is ready to assist Nigerians who wish to leave.
He added that land borders remain open and are being used by foreign nationals to exit the country.
“Reports indicate that the routes are safe and can be used without difficulty,” he said.
At the same time, travel disruptions continue to affect thousands of passengers. Emirates has suspended flights to and from Dubai, warning travellers not to go to the airport.
The airline said it is working with authorities to determine when it will be safe to resume operations.
The suspension has affected many Nigerians who rely on Dubai as a transit hub, leaving passengers dealing with delays, cancellations and pending refunds.
Officials say efforts are ongoing to bring affected Nigerians home as the crisis continues to disrupt travel and raise security risks across the region.
