The Federal Government (FG) has revealed that the majority of Nigerians living in Lebanon have shown hesitation in returning home, despite the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, October 5, only 500 out of over 2,000 Nigerians residing in Lebanon have registered for evacuation with the Nigerian Embassy in Beirut.
The Ministry noted that, in collaboration with the Presidency, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and other relevant agencies, efforts are ongoing to facilitate a safe evacuation for Nigerian citizens.
The embassy has also issued advisories, urging Nigerians to stay indoors and register for evacuation.
Despite these efforts, many Nigerians remain unwilling to leave the country.
The Ministry assured that they will continue to ensure the safety of all Nigerian citizens in Lebanon.
Plans are in motion to dispatch a C-130 aircraft or another available flight for the evacuation exercise. It also confirmed that no Nigerian lives have been lost so far in the conflict.
The FG praised the Embassy in Beirut and the leadership of the Nigerian community for their efforts to relocate citizens from southern Lebanon, the epicenter of the conflict, to safer areas in Beirut.
