Nigerians travelling to and from Qatar, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have been left stranded as escalating hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran disrupt air travel across the Middle East, triggering widespread airspace closures and flight suspensions.
Multiple international airlines have cancelled or suspended services on affected routes as operators reroute aircraft away from conflict corridors and assess safety risks. Airlines cited in affected schedules include Qatar Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, Air France, Turkish Airlines, Air India, Norwegian and Air Algérie, among others, as disruption spreads across major transit hubs and connecting networks.
Passengers booked on Qatar Airways departures from Nigeria were among those impacted. Accounts from airports indicate some travellers were checked in and in some cases already seated onboard before being asked to dismiss as airlines responded to sudden airspace restrictions and uncertainty around onward connectivity through Gulf hubs.
The disruption follows a rapid escalation in regional tensions after strikes on Iran were met with retaliatory actions, prompting authorities in different countries to restrict flight movement. Reports on the aviation response say large parts of Middle East airspace were grounded, with countries taking varying measures from temporary closures to partial restrictions while military forces heightened air-defence readiness.
Beyond the Gulf and Levant, regulators and carriers outside the region also moved to limit exposure. Russia’s aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, announced the suspension of commercial flights to Israel and Iran “until further notice,” reflecting the broader international airline pullback as the situation evolves.
In Nigeria, the Chairman of the International Airlines Operators Committee, Damilola Ogunyeye, confirmed that airlines operating outbound services had begun cancelling flights in response to airspace closures across conflict zones.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also warned that the restrictions were affecting international flight operations to and from Nigeria, with scheduled services cancelled or delayed as airlines reroute to avoid high-risk airspace. FAAN advised passengers to stay in close contact with their airlines for updates on flight status, rebooking options and further guidance.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has issued a security advisory to Nigerians in Iran and neighbouring Gulf countries. In a statement on Saturday, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said the government was closely monitoring the “evolving and volatile situation in the Middle East.” The ministry urged Nigerians in affected areas to exercise caution, avoid sensitive locations, restrict non-essential movement and comply with local security directives, adding: “Cooperation with local law enforcement is paramount to ensuring safety,” the statement said.
