The Federal Government has declared its intent to evacuate Nigerians stranded in the Middle East once regional airspace is deemed secure for flights, following intensifying military tensions that have forced the closure of several major flight corridors.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, revealed that authorities are actively preparing for potential evacuation but are currently unable to act since flights to affected areas remain unsafe. 
Dabiri-Erewa made the remarks while responding to concerns raised by a Nigerian citizen stranded in Qatar amid the ongoing crisis in the region. According to her, aviation conditions remain too risky for civilian travel at the moment. She noted that the skies over parts of the Middle East are currently unsafe for aircraft operations due to escalating hostilities and missile activity. 
She explained that Nigeria already has a multi-agency team on standby to coordinate evacuation operations once aviation authorities declare the airspace safe for travel. The government, she said, is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to act swiftly once flights resume. 
The growing conflict in the Middle East has drawn global attention and disrupted international travel across several countries in the region. Tensions intensified after Iran launched retaliatory strikes following allegations that United States forces carried out missile operations from a military base located in Qatar. The exchange of military actions raised fears of wider escalation and forced the closure of certain air routes used by commercial airlines.
The temporary shutdown of airspace in parts of the Middle East has created uncertainty for travellers and left some Nigerians stranded in countries across the region. Governments and airlines have been forced to suspend or reroute flights due to security concerns.
The situation has also highlighted the growing number of Nigerians living and working across the Middle East. Over the last two decades, large communities of Nigerian professionals and workers have moved to countries such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait in search of employment and business opportunities. These diaspora communities have become an important part of Nigeria’s global presence, contributing significantly to remittances sent back to the country each year.
Because of this large Nigerian population abroad, the Federal Government has, in recent years, established mechanisms to respond to emergencies affecting citizens outside the country. The creation of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission was part of these efforts. The agency is responsible for coordinating government engagement with Nigerians abroad and responding to issues affecting their welfare.
Nigeria has previously carried out evacuation operations in times of international crisis. In 2023, for example, the government organised evacuation flights to bring home Nigerians trapped in Sudan following the outbreak of armed conflict in that country. Similar operations have been conducted during political unrest or security emergencies in other parts of the world.
Dabiri-Erewa indicated that preparations for a possible evacuation are already underway. She noted that officials from several government agencies are involved in the planning process to ensure that stranded Nigerians can return home safely once flights resume.
According to her, a commercial flight from the United Arab Emirates successfully arrived in Lagos shortly before another round of strikes in the region triggered further airspace restrictions. The incident demonstrated how quickly the security situation can change and why authorities must wait for stable conditions before beginning evacuation flights. 
She also assured Nigerians currently trapped in the region that the government is aware of their situation and remains committed to assisting them.
Samuel Aina