Abuja, Nigeria — The federal government of Nigeria has begun preparations to evacuate Nigerian citizens affected by the growing security crisis across parts of the Middle East, as tensions in the region continue to intensify following recent military confrontations.
Officials confirmed that administrative arrangements and funding approvals are currently being processed to allow evacuation operations to begin for Nigerians who may be stranded or at risk in countries affected by the conflict.
Okay News reports that the rising tensions were triggered by a series of missile and drone attacks linked to Iran, which have heightened security fears across several Gulf countries. The situation escalated after the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran on Friday, February 28, 2026.
Speaking about the situation, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the government had already started preparing the logistics required for evacuation.
“The government is working out the necessary administrative details and the release of funds to commence evacuation,” he said.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier raised concerns about citizens who were unable to travel after flights were disrupted across the region. Nigerians in countries such as Iran, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar were among those affected by the disruption of international travel routes.
Officials explained that priority attention was being given to Nigerians living in areas considered the most vulnerable. Particular focus has been placed on those in Iran and Israel, where the security environment and ongoing hostilities have made evacuation efforts more complicated.
Authorities said the evacuation plan from Iran involves complex logistics. Many Nigerian students are studying at universities across the country, meaning they may need to travel long distances to reach a safe exit route. One of the main options under consideration involves moving students to the border between Iran and Armenia before they can continue their journey.
Nigerian officials also said the government is studying different evacuation methods. One option under consideration is deploying aircraft from the Nigerian Air Force, although the volatile security situation in the region has made it difficult to secure safe flight routes.
While some Nigerians remain stranded, others affected by disrupted transit flights are beginning to return home. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, many Nigerians stuck in Qatar were transit passengers whose journeys were interrupted by the crisis but who were being assisted by their airlines.
Providing an update, Ebienfa said flights were gradually resuming for some travellers.
“Qatar Airways has started operating flights to Nigeria. There was a flight to Lagos today (Monday) from Doha,” he said.
“So, in a few days, the category of Nigerian stranded due to transit flights that were affected by the crisis will all be in Nigeria. This is in addition to flights to Cairo, Egypt and Nairobi, Kenya that included some Nigerians.”
Security conditions across the region remain tense. On Saturday, March 14, 2026, the Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates confirmed that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones launched from Iran.
According to officials, nine ballistic missiles and 33 unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted as part of what authorities described as a broader wave of attacks linked to Iranian aggression.
The United Arab Emirates government said six people were killed in the attacks, while more than 140 others were injured. Victims included residents and foreign workers from several countries, among them Nigeria.
The Ministry of Defence also stated that its forces remain on high alert to respond to any further threats.
Officials reported that since the start of the hostilities, air defence systems in the United Arab Emirates have intercepted 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and around 1,600 drones launched from Iran.
Ebienfa confirmed that one Nigerian injured during the attacks had already received medical treatment.
“The Nigerian who was injured has been treated and discharged,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Gholamreza Raja, said his government is willing to cooperate with Nigerian authorities to help Nigerians who wish to leave the country.
Speaking on Monday, he said Iran remains committed to protecting the safety and welfare of foreign nationals living within its borders.
“Naturally, the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran has taken the necessary measures to assist and support its nationals, and it remains in contact with members of the Nigerian community to provide guidance where needed,” he said.
Raja added that the Iranian government was ready to facilitate travel arrangements for Nigerians who decide to depart.
“At the same time, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to cooperate in facilitating the departure of Nigerian nationals if they wish to leave the country.”
He explained that Iran’s land borders with neighbouring countries remain open and are already being used by foreign nationals seeking to travel out of the country.
“Currently, Iran’s land borders with neighbouring countries are open, and normal movement through these routes is ongoing. Many foreign nationals are already using these land routes for travel or departure,” he said.
“Reports indicate that the routes are safe and can be used without difficulty. Nigerian citizens can therefore make use of these routes if they choose to do so.”
The ambassador also said several hundred Nigerians are believed to be living in Iran. Many of them are students studying at universities and other educational institutions, some under scholarship programmes.
Others are involved in small business activities or have travelled to the country for short term study programmes, training courses, or religious visits.
However, officials noted that determining the exact number of Nigerians in Iran is difficult because not all citizens formally register with the Nigerian embassy.
Meanwhile, the aviation crisis linked to the conflict has worsened after Emirates Airline suspended flights to and from Dubai once again.
The airline advised passengers not to travel to Dubai International Airport until further notice. The suspension followed guidance from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, which grounded flights as security concerns intensified across the region.
Emirates said, “Customers are reminded not to travel to the airport at this time and to continue checking this page for the latest updates. We thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority.”
Dubai is one of the world’s largest aviation transit hubs and serves as a major connection point for travellers flying between Nigeria and other international destinations.
The ongoing disruption has affected thousands of travellers and has also begun to impact business activities linked to conferences, trade events, and tourism that normally take place in Dubai.
Only recently, Emirates had resumed limited operations on its Dubai to Lagos route on Thursday, March 6, 2026, after earlier disruptions. However, the latest suspension has again left many passengers uncertain about travel plans.
Travel agents say numerous refund requests submitted on behalf of passengers have not yet been processed, leaving travellers waiting for refunds or hoping flights will resume.
As the conflict continues to affect travel routes and security conditions across the Middle East, Nigerian authorities say evacuation preparations remain underway to ensure the safety of citizens abroad.
