The Federal Government of Nigeria is ramping up efforts to evacuate its citizens currently stranded in Lebanon amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to The PUNCH, the President of the Nigerian Community in Lebanon, Mr. Roland Aigbovbiosa, reported that over 70 Nigerians have registered for evacuation as the situation continues to deteriorate.
The crisis escalated in September following Iran’s retaliatory strike, which involved launching 180 ballistic missiles aimed at key targets in Israel in response to the assassination of Iranian-backed militant leaders.
Although the Israeli Defense Forces successfully intercepted many of these missiles, the attack has intensified fears of a broader regional conflict, leading to increased instability not only in Israel but also in Lebanon, which shares a border with Israel and is grappling with its own internal security issues.
In light of these developments, the Nigerian government has activated emergency protocols.
On October 1, the Special Assistant to the Nigerian President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, issued a notice via X, urging all Nigerians in Lebanon to contact the Nigerian Embassy in Beirut for profiling, documentation, and potential evacuation assistance.
The Federal Government is collaborating closely with various agencies, particularly the National Emergency Management Agency to implement the evacuation plans effectively.
NEMA’s spokesperson, Manzo Ezekiel, emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring the safety of its citizens.
“That is the whole sense of it. If it happens, fine. If it doesn’t happen, fine. At least, it shows that the government did not fold its arms while its citizens were in a crisis zone. But as I speak to you, all the preparations are still on the table. So that is just the idea,” he stated.
Some trapped Nigerians have recently voiced their concerns to the Federal Government, calling for urgent action as conditions in Beirut worsen. Aigbovbiosa highlighted the rising number of registered evacuees, noting, “Last week, the number was around 30. But since then, Nigerians have been coming almost every day, so we now have a little above 70. The issue we are facing now is knowing how soon the Federal Government will commence the evacuation.”
He further urged the government to prioritize the evacuation, arguing that every life matters regardless of the numbers involved, noting, “Personally, I oppose the idea of waiting for the number to increase to either 400 or 500 before coming to evacuate the people, because even the life of a single person matters. I believe that whatever we have is enough for the evacuation to begin because the people who have indicated an interest in going back home are suffering.”
As the conflict continues to unfold, many Nigerians in Lebanon remain anxious about their safety and the government’s response to their plight.
