Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that more than 500 Nigerian citizens have registered with the Nigerian mission in Lebanon for evacuation back to the country.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, said in Abuja on Sunday that about 2,000 Nigerian citizens reside in Lebanon, although most have not expressed willingness to return home in spite of persuasion from the mission.
Abu-Obe said that the Federal Government of Nigeria had initiated evacuation procedures due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
“President Bola Tinubu’s administration prioritises the safety and well-being of Nigerian citizens, and emergency protocols have been activated to ensure their swift and safe evacuation.
“The ministry 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,” the report by Vanguard newspaper report on Monday quoted Abu-Obe as saying.
He appealed to unregistered Nigerian citizens to contact the embassy via email ([email protected]) and warned against resisting evacuation due to the escalating conflict.
He commended the understanding of the Nigerian community in Lebanon and assured them of continued government monitoring of the situation.
GIK/APA