Escalating hostilities in the Middle East have triggered anxiety in Nigeria, halting pilgrimages, disrupting travel, spiking oil prices, and prompting distress calls from Nigerians abroad.
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) on Tuesday announced the immediate suspension of all Christian pilgrimages to Israel due to the worsening security situation.
NCPC Executive Secretary Bishop Stephen Adegbite said the decision followed the imposition of a state of emergency in Israel and restrictions on public gatherings.
“The recent developments in the Middle East have led to the putting on hold of all pilgrimage exercises to Israel. This also includes those being conducted by private pilgrimage operators until the situation normalises,” he stated.
Adegbite stressed that the safety of Nigerian pilgrims remains the top priority. He noted the Commission is closely monitoring events and appreciated stakeholder cooperation.
He urged Nigerians to pray for peace in Jerusalem and the wider Middle East.
The suspension follows the successful completion of the 2025 Main Pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan, with the final batch of pilgrims arriving safely at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on March 3.
Adegbite highlighted that five pilgrimages had been conducted in the past two years.
### Distress calls from Nigerians abroad
The Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) confirmed receiving distress enquiries from Nigerians in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Iran, seeking information on possible evacuation plans.
Spokesman Abdur-Rahman Balogun said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with relevant agencies and advised those affected to follow official travel advisories and contact Nigerian missions.
“Nigerians in affected countries should be assured that the Federal Government is monitoring the situation and will take necessary steps to ensure that no Nigerian life is endangered,” he said.
Flight cancellations and airspace closures in the UAE, Qatar, Iran, Israel, Iraq, Kuwait, and Syria have stranded many Nigerians in Dubai, Qatar, and other locations.
### Aviation revenue at risk
National President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Ben Nnabue, warned that disrupted flights could negatively impact airport revenue and the broader economy.
He noted that rerouting adds fuel and operational costs, compounding financial pressures on airlines and airports.
He expressed hope for a quick return to peace to restore normal travel.
### Shi’ites protest in solidarity with Iran
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), known as Shi’ites, staged protests in Lagos and several northern states (Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Gombe, Niger, Bauchi, Yobe) in solidarity with Iran following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In Lagos, protesters marched through the Maryland area chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans, calling for global condemnation of foreign intervention in sovereign nations.
South-West IMN Coordinator Muftau Zakariya said the protests highlight persistent foreign incursions, citing Venezuela as a recent example.
“Nothing good is coming from the US intervention. It is only interested in its economic gains, not minding the consequences thereafter,” he said.
The protests follow the US-Israeli strikes that killed Khamenei and triggered Iranian retaliation across the Gulf region.
