Nigeria Warns Citizens with Health Conditions About Transiting Addis Ababa

Nigeria's foreign ministry has cautioned Nigerian citizens, particularly those with medical conditions, against travelling through Addis Ababa's main airport because of the city's altitude, according to the BBC.

The ministry said 16 Nigerians with underlying health problems had died this year while transiting through Addis Ababa, meaning while passing through the city on a connecting journey. It did not disclose the identities of those who died, nor the cause of any death.

Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, sits at 2,334 metres (7,657 feet) above sea level. Bole International Airport is a major hub for travel between Africa, the Middle East and Asia, so it handles a large number of connecting passengers. The ministry said people with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, meaning heart and lung conditions, were at increased risk when transiting through the city.

The ministry urged anyone whose health condition could be worsened by high altitude to exercise caution and seek medical guidance before travelling via Addis Ababa. It also said it did not want to discourage Nigerians from travelling through the Ethiopian capital.