The Federal Government has expressed deep concern over escalating tensions in the Gulf region, urging all parties involved to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue to safeguard regional and global stability.
In a statement on Saturday in Abuja, signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the federal government warned that further escalation could have “potentially grave consequences for regional and global stability.”
The statement read, “The Federal Republic of Nigeria expresses deep concern over the rising tensions in the Gulf region and the risk of further escalation with potentially grave consequences for regional and global stability.”
Nigeria called on all sides to “exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions that could intensify hostilities, and prioritise dialogue over confrontation.”
The government also urged strict compliance with international law, stating, “We urge strict adherence to the provisions of the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Convention, particularly taking into cognisance the respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
Emphasising the need to protect civilians, the Nigerian government stressed restraint in the use of force.
“In this regard, Nigeria emphasises the imperative of restraint in the use of lethal force, to prevent further loss of civilian life and avoid any actions that could undermine or abrogate established norms of international law,” the statement said.
It added that preserving the existing legal framework regulating the use of force “remains essential to the protection of victims, the safeguarding of civilian populations, and the maintenance of international order.”
Reaffirming Nigeria’s foreign policy stance, the government described itself as “a longstanding advocate of non-alignment, multilateralism, and constructive engagement,” and pledged support for renewed diplomatic initiatives.
“We welcome initiatives aimed at confidence-building, mediation, and dialogue, and encourage all stakeholders and parties in the conflict to pursue peaceful resolution in the interest of collective security and shared prosperity,” the statement read.
The government further declared its solidarity with the international community in seeking calm.
“The Government of Nigeria stands in solidarity with the international community in its call for calm and remains steadfast in its conviction that sustainable peace can only be secured through diplomacy, mutual respect, and faithful adherence to international law,” it stated.
It was earlier reported that a wave of strikes on Saturday by the United States and Israel against targets in Iranian cities, triggering explosions and columns of smoke in the capital, Tehran.
US President Donald Trump said Washington’s goal was “eliminating imminent threats” from Iran, while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the action as a “preventive strike.”
In a video message posted on his social media platform, Trump said, “The United States’ military began major combat operations in Iran.”
He added, “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy.”
In a related development, the US said on Saturday that Iran’s retaliation has caused no reported American casualties, the Pentagon said, adding that damage to US installations has been “minimal” despite a barrage of Iranian air assaults.
Following the initial US and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic, “CENTCOM forces successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks,” the US Central Command, which launched the American operation at the orders of President Donald Trump, said in a statement.
“There have been no reports of US casualties or combat-related injuries. Damage to US installations was minimal and has not impacted operations.”
