Nigeria is currently taking action to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to Amb. Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, over 500 Nigerian citizens have registered with the Nigerian mission in Lebanon for evacuation.
This is out of approximately 2,000 Nigerian citizens residing in Lebanon, although most have not expressed willingness to return home despite persuasion from the mission.
“The administration of President Bola Tinubu places a high priority on the safety and welfare of Nigerian citizens abroad, and emergency procedures have been put in place to facilitate their prompt and safe evacuation,” Amb. Abu-Obe stated.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is collaborating with relevant agencies, including the Presidency, National Emergency Management Agency, and Nigerian Immigration Service, to coordinate the evacuation exercise.
The Nigerian Embassy in Beirut has issued advisories urging citizens to stay indoors and follow local authorities’ instructions.
Amb. Abu-Obe appealed to unregistered citizens to contact the embassy via email (info@mfa.gov.ng) and warned against resisting evacuation due to the escalating conflict. He praised the Nigerian community in Lebanon for their cooperation and reassured them that the government is continuously monitoring the developments surrounding their safety.
