Nigeria Warns Citizens Over Addis Ababa Transit After 16 Deaths This Year
Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Friday, November 13, cautioning its citizens, particularly those with underlying medical conditions, about travelling through Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. The ministry said Nigeria's diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa had recorded 16 deaths this year involving Nigerians who were travelling through the city.
The deaths were reportedly linked to health complications associated with Addis Ababa's high-altitude terrain, the ministry said. Addis Ababa sits at an altitude of 2,355 metres (7,726 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest capital cities in the world. At that elevation, atmospheric pressure is lower and each breath delivers less oxygen than at sea level.
The advisory, signed by ministry spokesperson Oluwafemi Adeniyi, warned that people with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions could suffer health complications because of the scarcity of oxygen, and advised anyone with a health condition exacerbated by high altitude to seek medical advice and obtain appropriate medical clearance before making a journey through Addis Ababa.
The ministry did not disclose the identities of the 16 travellers who died, nor the specific causes of their deaths. It emphasised that the advisory was not intended to discourage Nigerians from transiting through or travelling to Addis Ababa, and announced no restrictions on flights or travel.
Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport is one of Africa's busiest transfer hubs, where Ethiopian Airlines connects African cities with destinations in the Middle East, Asia and Europe, and many Nigerian travellers route through it on international journeys.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：亚的斯亚贝巴 Bole International Airport 的航站楼。作者：CAPTAIN RAJU，CC0，维基共享资源。 / Photo: The terminal at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. Credit: CAPTAIN RAJU, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
