- The Nigerian government commenced evacuation of citizens in Iran, escorting them safely through the Armenia border
- NiDCOM Chair Abike Dabiri-Erewa confirmed embassy officials coordinated the evacuation and provided assistance at the border
- The move followed heightened regional hostilities, with no Nigerian reported harmed during the escalating conflict
The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the evacuation of Nigerian citizens wishing to leave Iran, following escalating tensions in the region.
The evacuees are being escorted through the Armenia border as part of measures to ensure their safety.
The development was confirmed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a post on her X account. She stated that officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the evacuation and providing necessary assistance to Nigerians opting to leave the country.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, arrangements have been made at the Armenian border to guarantee safe passage for evacuees, with embassy officials present to receive and support citizens during the process.
The evacuation comes in the wake of heightened security concerns following coordinated military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, which triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks in the region, raising fears of broader conflict.
Dabiri-Erewa reassured Nigerians that none of the citizens in Iran have been harmed since the hostilities began. She emphasized that embassy officials remain stationed at the border to facilitate safe departure for those wishing to leave.
“Willing Nigerians are being escorted across the Armenian border by officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Iran to ensure safe passage. No Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the war, as our officials are at the border to receive everyone who wants to leave,” she wrote.