FG Issues Travel Alert After 16 Nigerians Die in Ethiopia

The Federal Government has issued a travel advisory warning Nigerians with underlying medical conditions to exercise caution when travelling through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after 16 citizens reportedly died from health complications associated with the city's high-altitude environment this year.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in an advisory issued on Saturday, noting that the deaths were recorded by Nigeria's Diplomatic Mission in the Ethiopian capital.

According to the ministry, Addis Ababa is situated approximately 2,355 metres above sea level, where lower atmospheric pressure results in reduced oxygen availability.

The ministry's spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, explained that although healthy individuals generally adapt to reduced oxygen levels at high altitudes, people with certain pre-existing medical conditions could face increased health risks.

It specifically identified cardiovascular and respiratory conditions as potential risk factors for travellers passing through the city.

The government consequently advised Nigerians whose medical conditions could be aggravated by high-altitude environments to exercise caution when planning journeys involving stopovers in Addis Ababa.

It also urged travellers with underlying health conditions to obtain appropriate medical advice before undertaking such journeys.

The ministry, however, clarified that the advisory was not intended to discourage Nigerians from travelling to or transiting through the Ethiopian capital.

Rather, it said the warning was designed to ensure that medically vulnerable travellers understood the potential risks and took necessary precautions before embarking on their journeys.

The government further encouraged Nigerians to make informed travel decisions, particularly where existing health conditions could increase their vulnerability.

It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the health, safety and welfare of citizens abroad, adding that the advisory was part of efforts to provide timely information to Nigerians travelling internationally.