Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to diplomacy and the protection of its citizens abroad, following rising tensions in the Gulf region linked to the confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The spokesperson in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of Crisis Monitoring and Public Communications Division, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, disclosed this while speaking on Politics Today, a Kapital FM current affairs programme.
Ebienfa said Nigeria’s diplomatic response was prompted by the rapid escalation of hostilities in the Gulf and the potential spillover effects across the region.
According to him, the Nigerian government has activated diplomatic channels and consular alert mechanisms to ensure the safety of Nigerians living in the affected areas.
“Our foreign policy is anchored on dialogue, peaceful resolution of conflicts and respect for international law,” Ebienfa said. “Nigeria has consistently urged all parties involved in the crisis to exercise restraint and pursue diplomatic engagement in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Conventions.”
He explained that Nigerian embassies across the region, including those in Tehran, Tel Aviv, Qatar, Beirut, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have been placed on high alert to closely monitor developments and provide support to Nigerian nationals where necessary.
On the safety of Nigerians in the Gulf region, Ebienfa noted that thousands of Nigerians work across various sectors including construction, healthcare, aviation, oil and gas, and domestic services.
“While the situation remains under close watch, there have been no confirmed reports of Nigerians directly affected by the tensions so far,” he stated.
He added that Nigeria relies on a combination of diplomatic intelligence, host country advisories and international monitoring systems to anticipate potential threats to its citizens abroad.
The Ministry’s Spokesperson stated that an Inter-Ministerial meeting was hosted on Friday with relevant stakeholders to agree on a reliable evacuation plan.