The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has explained why the Federal Government has not begun evacuating citizens from Iran amid the escalating conflict involving the United States and Israel.
In an interview with Vanguard, NiDCOM’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said the commission has not received any official distress signals from Nigerians currently residing in Iran.
According to him, while it is possible that Nigerians are in the country, none has formally contacted the commission to request assistance.
“I’m not suggesting there are no Nigerians in Iran,” he clarified. “But as of now, we have not received any distress call from anyone there.”
Balogun attributed the inability to initiate evacuation efforts to the volatile security situation, noting that international flight operations to the region have been suspended due to safety concerns.
“You cannot expect airlines to operate in an active conflict zone,” he said. “When bombs are going off, flights are automatically halted. This situation affects everyone, not just Nigerians.”
He added that in some crises, temporary ceasefires are sometimes arranged to allow stranded travelers to leave safely, but such arrangements have not materialized in the current situation.
When asked about the number of Nigerians who might be affected, Balogun said NiDCOM does not maintain figures on citizens in Iran and advised that such inquiries be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which oversees Nigeria’s diplomatic missions.
“We do not manage embassies. That responsibility lies with the Minister of Foreign Affairs,” he explained.
On whether the commission is working with airlines or foreign governments to secure safe passage for Nigerians, Balogun maintained that collaboration is currently impractical due to the blanket suspension of flights into the conflict area.
He also pointed out that Nigeria does not have a national carrier operating international routes at the moment.
Most Nigerians who travel to Iran, he noted, do so independently, often connecting through countries such as the United Arab Emirates or Greece.
Balogun further outlined the conditions required before the Federal Government can activate a full-scale evacuation plan.
He emphasised that affected citizens must formally request help and indicate their willingness to return home.
“The government cannot compel anyone to leave,” he said. “People traveled there by choice. In previous crises like Sudan and Ukraine, some Nigerians initially declined evacuation offers.
Those seeking assistance must clearly state that they are in danger and want to be brought back.”
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He added that once such requests are made and security conditions allow, the government can take emergency steps, including setting up a rescue committee and chartering aircraft for evacuation.
“But first, they must reach out, confirm they are Nigerians, and be ready to return home,” he stressed.