The Federal Government has raised the alarm over the deaths of 16 Nigerians who reportedly suffered health complications while transiting through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this year, warning travellers with underlying medical conditions to exercise caution.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a travel advisory issued on Saturday, said the fatalities were recorded by Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in the Ethiopian capital and were reportedly linked to health complications associated with the city’s high-altitude environment.
Consequently, the government urged Nigerians, particularly those with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, to seek medical advice before booking flights involving stopovers in Addis Ababa.
According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, the Ethiopian capital is situated approximately 2,355 metres above sea level, where lower atmospheric pressure and reduced oxygen availability could pose health risks to people with certain pre-existing medical conditions.
“This year, Nigeria’s Diplomatic Mission in Addis Ababa has recorded 16 deaths involving Nigerians transiting through the city, reportedly linked to health complications associated with high altitudes,” the advisory stated.
It explained that although healthy individuals generally adapt to reduced oxygen levels at high altitudes, travellers with underlying cardiovascular and respiratory ailments could experience increased health risks.
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“While healthy individuals are generally able to adapt to reduced oxygen levels in high-altitude environments, persons with certain pre-existing medical ailments, particularly cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, may experience increased health risks in such conditions,” the ministry said.
The government advised Nigerians whose medical conditions could be aggravated by high-altitude environments to exercise caution when choosing flights involving stopovers in Addis Ababa.
However, the ministry stressed that the advisory was not intended to discourage Nigerians from travelling to or transiting through the Ethiopian capital.
Rather, it said the warning was aimed at ensuring that medically vulnerable travellers were aware of the potential risks and took necessary precautions before travelling.
“The Federal Government wishes to emphasise that this advisory is not intended to discourage Nigerians from transiting through or travelling to Addis Ababa,” the statement added.
The ministry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of Nigerians abroad, urging travellers to make informed decisions, particularly where existing medical conditions could increase their vulnerability.
