The Federal Government has commenced the evacuation of Nigerians residing in Iran who wish to leave, escorting them across the border into Armenia to ensure their safety amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The evacuation was prompted by the growing crisis that began on February 28, following coordinated military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel.
The attacks have led to retaliatory missile and drone strikes, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed the development in a post on her X handle on Tuesday.
She stated that officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the evacuation and facilitating safe passage for Nigerians into Armenia.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa reassured the public that no Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the conflict so far, with embassy personnel stationed at the border to receive and assist evacuees.
“Willing Nigerians being escorted across the Armenian border by officials of the Nigerian embassy in Iran for safe passage,” her post read.
Regarding potential repatriation flights, she noted that the airspace is currently unsafe for flying.
However, she assured Nigerians in the affected regions that the multi-agency Federal Government team is on standby to begin evacuation operations as soon as the airspace reopens.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
