ABUJA — The Nigerian government has issued an official travel advisory cautioning its citizens against transiting through Ethiopia's primary aviation hub, citing severe health risks associated with high altitudes. The advisory specifically targets travelers with underlying medical conditions, warning that the physiological demands of high-elevation environments can pose life-threatening complications.
According to the foreign ministry in Abuja, 16 Nigerian nationals suffering from pre-existing health problems have died this year while passing through Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. While the ministry did not release the specific identities of the deceased or the exact medical causes of death, it emphasized that individuals with cardiovascular and respiratory ailments face a substantially heightened risk when navigating the high-altitude facility.
Addis Ababa is situated at an elevation of 2,334 meters above sea level, ranking it among the highest capital cities globally. Bole International Airport functions as a vital continental and intercontinental transit nexus connecting Africa with the Middle East and Asia, handling millions of passengers annually. Medical experts note that high-altitude locations feature thinner air, which reduces oxygen saturation in the bloodstream and forces the heart to work harder to supply oxygen to the body.
While healthy individuals can experience symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath in such environments, the American Heart Association indicates that oxygen deprivation can precipitate heart failure in patients with pre-existing cardiac or pulmonary diseases. Abuja has urged affected travelers to seek professional medical guidance before planning journeys through the Ethiopian capital, clarifying that the advisory is intended as a safety precaution rather than a deterrent against utilizing the transit hub.