The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has stated that it has not received any distress calls from Nigerians residing in Iran, despite escalating hostilities between Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM’s Director of Media and Public Relations, told Vanguard that while there may be Nigerians in Iran, none had officially reached out for assistance. “I’m not saying there are no Nigerians there, I’m only saying nobody has sent any distress call,” he clarified.
Balogun added that NiDCOM does not have data on how many Nigerians are currently affected and advised that such inquiries be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which controls diplomatic missions in the country.
On the possibility of collaborating with airlines or foreign authorities to assist stranded Nigerians, Balogun noted that such measures are not feasible at present. “There is suspension of flights by all airlines. We cannot collaborate with anybody. Which Nigerian airline? We don’t have one now,” he explained.
He further stated that most Nigerians traveling to Iran do so privately, often connecting through countries like the United Arab Emirates or Greece.
Regarding a potential evacuation plan, Balogun emphasized that the Federal Government can only intervene if affected Nigerians formally request assistance and are willing to return home. “You cannot force them; people went there voluntarily. In Sudan and Ukraine, some initially said they were not leaving. So people must seek help and say, ‘our lives are in danger, can you evacuate us?’” he said.
If such requests are received and conditions allow, the government could organize emergency measures, including chartered aircraft and a rescue committee. “They must be Nigerians and be ready to come back home,” he added.
Balogun reaffirmed that protecting Nigerians abroad remains a core responsibility of the Federal Government under its citizen diplomacy policy. “If the life of any Nigerian is in danger and it reaches out to us, the Federal Government will look for a way out. Even if we don’t have an aircraft, we can lease or hire for that operation. As far as I know, I’m not aware that anybody has sent a distress call,” he concluded.
