14.11.2026 21:01
Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that some citizens with health problems died this year while transiting in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. The Ministry stated that because Bole International Airport is 2,334 meters above sea level, cardiovascular and respiratory patients are at higher risk, and asked these travelers to seek medical advice in advance.
According to a BBC report, the Nigerian government warned its citizens, especially those with chronic health problems, not to travel through the main airport in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. The reason for the warning is the high altitude at which the airport is located.
THEY LOST THEIR LIVES DURING TRANSIT
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja announced that some Nigerians with health problems died this year while transiting in Addis Ababa. The ministry did not share the identities of the deceased passengers or the causes of death.
ONE OF THE HIGHEST CAPITALS IN THE WORLD
Addis Ababa is located 2,334 meters above sea level and is one of the highest capitals in the world. Bole International Airport in the city is an important transit hub for journeys between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia; it serves millions of passengers every year.
The ministry stated that people with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are at higher risk. It asked travelers with a health condition that worsens at high altitude to be careful when planning a journey with a transfer in Addis Ababa and to seek medical advice in advance.
The ministry also emphasized that it does not want to discourage Nigerians from traveling through the Ethiopian capital.
THIN AIR STRAINS THE HEART
According to experts, because the air is thinner at high altitude, less oxygen passes into the blood. According to the American Heart Association, in this case the heart has to work harder to deliver enough oxygen to the body, and this can sometimes lead to heart failure in people with an existing disease. Oxygen deficiency can cause dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath even in healthy people.
Source: BBC