Nigeria has urged travellers with underlying medical conditions to seek advice before journeys through Addis Ababa.
Nigeria urges travellers with existing medical conditions to seek medical advice before journeys through Ethiopia’s high-altitude capital.
A Nigeria travel advisory urges citizens with underlying medical conditions to seek medical advice before travelling through Addis Ababa. The warning follows 16 deaths among Nigerians transiting through the Ethiopian capital this year.
Nigeria’s Embassy in Addis Ababa recorded the deaths, reportedly linked to health complications associated with high altitude. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the advisory in a statement late on Friday, November 13.
The ministry asked travellers with existing health conditions to exercise caution before journeys involving the city. However, it stressed that the warning did not aim to discourage travel to or transit through Addis Ababa.
Nigeria travel advisory highlights altitude risks
Addis Ababa sits approximately 2,355 metres above sea level. For comparison, Nyahururu stands at about 2,303 metres, while Limuru has the same elevation as the Ethiopian capital.
The Health Ministry explained that lower atmospheric pressure at this altitude reduces the oxygen available to travellers. As a result, some people may face health complications, particularly those with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions.
Healthy people can generally adapt to reduced oxygen levels at high altitude, the Nigerian government said. However, travellers with certain underlying conditions may face greater risks in such environments.
The warning also has relevance for Kenyans who connect through Addis Ababa on international journeys. Ethiopian Airlines operates connections between African destinations and international markets through the major aviation hub.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Oluwafemi Adeniyi reiterated that Nigeria did not intend to deter citizens from using the route.
