Nigeria’s government has cautioned its citizens, particularly those with underlying medical conditions, to exercise caution when transiting through Ethiopia’s main airport due to the health risks posed by its high altitude.

In a travel advisory issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, officials revealed that Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa has recorded 16 deaths involving Nigerians transiting through the Ethiopian capital this year, reportedly linked to high-altitude health complications.

Sitting at more than 2 330 metres above sea level, Addis Ababa is one of the highest capital cities in the world, where lower atmospheric pressure reduces the amount of oxygen available to the body. While healthy travellers can generally adapt to the thinner air, the ministry noted that individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular and respiratory conditions face significantly heightened risks.

Bole International Airport serves as a vital aviation hub connecting Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, handling millions of passengers annually. Nigerian authorities clarified that the advisory is not intended to discourage citizens from travelling to or through Ethiopia, but rather to urge medically vulnerable passengers to seek professional medical guidance and take appropriate precautions before planning stopovers in the city.

–ChannelAfrica/Imagecredits:Reuters–