Nigeria Seeks Immediate End to Houthi-Saudi Tensions

Nigeria has called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between the Houthi militia in Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, expressing deep concern over ongoing attacks and reported hostilities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday.

The West African nation urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any further actions that could inflame hostilities or endanger civilian lives and regional peace and stability.

“Nigeria strongly calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, immediately de-escalate the situation, and refrain from any further actions that could inflame hostilities or endanger civilian lives and regional peace and stability,” the ministry said in a statement signed by spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.

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The ministry said Nigeria was urging the parties concerned to prioritise “dialogue, diplomacy, and peaceful means of resolving differences in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.”

Nigeria believes that any further escalation of the conflict risks undermining regional security and stability, the ministry said.

The country reaffirmed its “steadfast commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes” and expressed readiness to support all genuine and constructive efforts aimed at reducing tensions, restoring calm and promoting lasting peace in the region.

Members of Houthi security force stand guard as Houthi supporters rally against the Saudi-led coalition’s restrictions on Houthi-controlled areas, which the group describes as a blockade, in Sanaa, Yemen, July 17, 2026.
(photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)

The call comes after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said on Saturday that they fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi airstrikes on the strategic Red Sea city of Hodeida.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ military spokesperson, said in a prerecorded statement that the attack targeted facilities in the Red Sea cities of Yanbu and Jizan belonging to Aramco, the world’s largest oil company.

Saudi Arabia’s civil defence said alerts sounded multiple times early Saturday in both cities, but the kingdom did not comment further.

The Houthis have said they would close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked shipping in retaliation for the kingdom’s blockade on Yemen and a recent attack on the international airport in Yemen’s rebel-held capital, Sanaa.

The strait is a vital shipping route for Middle Eastern oil exports and connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria 🇳🇬 (@NigeriaMFA) July 26, 2026

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Jimisayo Opanuga

Jimisayo Opanuga is a web writer in the Digital Department at News Central TV, where she covers African and international stories. Her reporting focuses on social issues, health, justice, and the environment, alongside general-interest news. She is passionate about telling stories that inform the public and give voice to underreported communities.