Nigerians travelling to and from countries including Qatar, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have been left stranded as escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran disrupt air travel across the Middle East.
Several international carriers — including Air France, Air India, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Lufthansa — announced widespread flight cancellations as airspaces across the region were shut.
The disruption followed US and Israeli airstrikes on targets in Iran, including the capital, Tehran. Iran retaliated with missile attacks reportedly aimed at northern Israel and at US military installations in countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Airspace closures ripple across region
Aviation authorities across the Middle East moved swiftly to restrict air traffic. Syria partially closed its southern airspace near the Israeli border for 12 hours, while Kuwait shut its skies entirely, with its military later claiming it had intercepted incoming missiles. Russia’s air transport authority, Rosaviatsia, suspended commercial flights to Israel and Iran until further notice.
As a result, many flights scheduled for Saturday were cancelled or delayed, leaving passengers in limbo.
Nigerian passengers stranded
Passengers bound for destinations via Doha reported being deboarded from a Qatar Airways flight on Saturday morning after the airline cited the closure of Qatari airspace. Some travellers said they were informed that Doha airport was not responding, leaving them uncertain about alternative routing.
One passenger said the sudden suspension disrupted carefully laid plans, while another expressed concern about a family member’s return to school, describing the development as painful despite understanding the security risks.
In a statement, Qatar Airways confirmed a temporary suspension of flights to and from Doha, stressing that passenger and crew safety remained its top priority and apologising for the inconvenience.
Air India also halted all services to Middle Eastern destinations, citing the rapidly evolving security situation.
Damilola Ogunyeye, Chairman of the International Airlines Operators Committee, said airlines were cancelling outbound flights to avoid exposure to escalating risks, noting that safety considerations leave no room for uncertainty in aviation.
Similarly, Yinka Folami, President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents, confirmed that passengers had been turned back as airlines responded to airspace restrictions.
FAAN issues advisory
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria warned that ongoing restrictions were affecting international flight operations to and from Nigeria. The agency advised passengers to maintain direct contact with their airlines for updates on flight status and rebooking options, adding that it was monitoring developments in collaboration with international aviation regulators.
Federal Government cautions Nigerians abroad
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was closely monitoring the volatile situation. Nigerians residing in Iran and neighbouring Gulf states were urged to remain vigilant, avoid strategic or military locations, restrict non-essential travel and comply with directives issued by local authorities.
The ministry added that Nigerian embassies in Tehran and in Gulf countries such as Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia had been directed to provide consular support where necessary.
Conflicting claims over Iran’s leadership
Amid the escalation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, may have been killed in the strikes, though Tehran has not confirmed the claim. US President Donald Trump also asserted that Khamenei had died, while details of casualties and damage remain unclear.
The strikes reportedly followed stalled negotiations over Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and came months after a brief but intense 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran.
Oil price fears and diplomatic concerns
Former Nigerian diplomats warned that the intensifying conflict could have far-reaching global consequences, particularly for energy markets.
A former ambassador to Algeria, Mohammed Mabdul, noted that a significant portion of global oil shipments pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Any attempt to block or disrupt that route, he said, would likely trigger a sharp rise in oil prices and disrupt international trade.
Former Ambassador Godknows Igali described the situation as a dangerous show of power that could spiral into a broader regional war, especially with reports of increased US military deployments in the Gulf.
While higher oil prices could temporarily boost Nigeria’s revenue as an oil-producing nation, Igali cautioned that wider instability and energy market disruptions could offset any gains.
Similarly, former Ambassador Yemi Faronbi warned that although Nigeria might benefit financially from rising oil prices, the unpredictability of the conflict posed serious economic and diplomatic risks. He emphasised that developing countries require stability and predictable markets rather than windfalls driven by global crises.
Security expert Abdulrazaq Hamzat also called for a reassessment of Nigeria’s longstanding non-aligned foreign policy, arguing that shifting global alliances require a more strategic and interest-driven diplomatic approach.
As tensions continue to rise, the full impact on air travel, regional stability and global markets remains uncertain.
