The Federal Government of Nigeria says it is closely monitoring rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran to safeguard the country’s economic stability.
The announcement followed a meeting of the Economic Management Team, chaired by Wale Edun. According to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Finance, the meeting assessed potential economic risks arising from the conflict and its possible impact on Nigeria.
The government highlighted that global uncertainty triggered by the crisis—particularly fears of disruptions to key energy supply routes like the Strait of Hormuz—has already led to volatility in crude oil prices and international financial markets.
The Economic Management Team noted that the conflict could affect Nigeria through multiple channels, including rising global energy costs, higher logistics expenses, and shifts in international capital toward safer assets. Officials said they are closely monitoring key economic indicators such as crude oil prices, exchange rate movements, and capital inflows.
Despite these uncertainties, the government emphasized that Nigeria’s economic fundamentals remain strong, citing real GDP growth of 4.07 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. Authorities assured Nigerians that necessary measures would be taken to protect the economy and sustain growth.
Meanwhile, the government also addressed concerns regarding Nigerians stranded in parts of the Middle East due to the conflict. Abike Dabiri-Erewa stated that evacuation flights will commence once regional airspace is deemed safe.
Responding to inquiries from a Nigerian stranded in Qatar, Dabiri-Erewa explained that repatriation efforts cannot begin yet because many airspaces in the region remain closed for security reasons. “As for repatriation flights, the skies are currently unsafe to fly,” she said, noting that a flight from the United Arab Emirates had landed in Lagos shortly before another strike prompted airspace closures.
She added that a multi-agency federal team responsible for crisis response and evacuation is on standby to begin repatriation operations once the airspace reopens.
