Amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says it has not received any distress call from Nigerians living in Iran.
NiDCOM’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said although Nigerians may be in the country, none has formally contacted the commission for help.
“I’m not saying there are no Nigerians there. I’m only saying nobody has sent a distress call”, he stated.
Balogun explained that the suspension of international flights is due to the ongoing hostilities, noting that no airline would operate in an active conflict zone. He added that the disruption affects all foreign nationals, not just Nigerians.
According to him, evacuation would only be possible if there is a temporary ceasefire to allow safe departures, stressing that no such arrangement has been made.
He said NiDCOM does not have data on the number of Nigerians in Iran and advised that inquiries be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which oversees Nigeria’s embassies.
Balogun also ruled out immediate collaboration with airlines, citing the general flight suspension and the absence of a Nigerian national carrier on international routes.
He maintained that any evacuation plan would require affected Nigerians to formally request assistance and indicate willingness to return home.
“You cannot force anyone to leave. They must come forward and say they want to be evacuated”, he said, adding that the Federal Government remains committed to protecting Nigerians abroad but can only act when conditions permit safe travel.
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