The Federal Government has walked back on its earlier claims that Nigerians caught up in the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war in the Middle East have not reached out for assistance, clarifying that few stranded people have called to enquire about preparation for possible evacuation.
The Federal Government had through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, told Vanguard that the Commission had not received any distress from Nigerians in Iran.
Responding to Vanguard inquiries via a telephone conversation, Monday, the Commission’s Spokesperson, Adur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols at NIDCOM, said that though Nigerians may be stranded in Iran, but none has officially reached out to the commission for assistance.
“I’m not saying there are no Nigerians there, I’m only saying nobody has sent any distress call.”he clarified.
“You cannot fly where bombs are going up and down. No airline will fly,” he said, adding that the situation affects all nationals, not just Nigerians.
Speaking on the possibility of activating a full evacuation plan, Balogun said certain conditions must be met before the Federal Government can intervene.
“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?’”
“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,” Balogun said.
But in a statement issued yesterday, he denied issuing statement, saying that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was working with other relevant agencies for appropriate steps to take in helping Nigerians stranded in the qar-torn region.
(Vanguard)
