No Distress Call from Nigerians in Iran Yet — NiDCOM

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says it has not received any distress call from Nigerians residing in Iran amid the ongoing hostilities involving Iran and the United States.

Director of Media and Public Relations of the commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, disclosed this in a telephone interview on Monday while responding to concerns that Nigerians may be stranded following the suspension of international flights into and out of Iran.

Balogun clarified that while Nigerians may be living in Iran, none has formally contacted the commission for assistance.

“I’m not saying there are no Nigerians there, I’m only saying nobody has sent any distress call,” he said.

He explained that the cancellation of flights was due to security concerns arising from the conflict, noting that airlines would not operate in an active war zone.

“You cannot fly where bombs are going up and down. No airline will fly,” he stated, adding that the situation affects all nationalities.

According to him, evacuation would only be possible if there is a ceasefire that allows stranded persons to leave safely.

“They may ceasefire for two or three days to allow people who are stranded at the airport to be evacuated. That has not been done,” he noted.

On the estimated number of Nigerians currently in Iran, Balogun said NiDCOM does not have such data and advised that inquiries be directed to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which oversees Nigeria’s embassies.

“We don’t have embassies there. The only person controlling embassies is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. They will be able to tell you,” he said.

Balogun also noted that collaboration with airlines or foreign authorities is not feasible at the moment due to the suspension of flights and Nigeria’s lack of a national carrier operating international routes.

“Which Nigerian airline? We don’t have one now,” he added.

He explained that Nigerians travelling to Iran usually do so privately, often connecting through countries such as Dubai or Greece.

On the possibility of a government-led evacuation, Balogun said affected Nigerians must first formally request assistance and indicate willingness 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 for help and say, ‘Our lives are in danger, can you evacuate us?’”

He added that once such a request is made and conditions permit, the Federal Government could activate emergency measures, including chartering aircraft and setting up a rescue committee.

Balogun reaffirmed that the protection of Nigerians abroad remains a core responsibility of the Federal Government under its citizen diplomacy policy, but stressed that evacuation efforts would depend on improved security conditions and the reopening of airspace.

“As far as I know, I’m not aware that anybody has sent a distress call,” he maintained.