NIDCOM Denies Claim of No Distress Calls from Nigerians Amid Middle East Crisis
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has clarified reports suggesting that no Nigerians had reached out for assistance amid the ongoing Middle East crisis.
The clarification comes after a statement was erroneously attributed to NIDCOM’s spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, claiming there were no distress calls from Nigerians in the region. Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NIDCOM, dismissed the report, saying he never made such a statement.
According to Balogun, the commission has, in fact, received inquiries from Nigerians in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran regarding preparations for potential evacuations.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with relevant agencies to take appropriate steps while advising Nigerians in affected countries to adhere strictly to travel advisories and contact emergency numbers provided by the ministry.
“Nigerians in affected countries should be rest assured that the federal government is monitoring the situation and will take necessary steps to ensure no Nigerian life is endangered,” Balogun stated.
