Why 16 Nigerians died in transit in Ethiopia in 2026 — by Kelechi Deca

Traveling by air is comfortable but can also be dangerous to your health.

When Ethiopia Airlines was established in 1945, but took off in 1946, the government of Emperor Haile Selassie ran into a dead end. The geography of Ethiopia wasn’t friendly to aviation at the time.

Haile Selassie had to enter a partnership with America’s TWA to help him actualise the dream.

Addis Ababa sits on about 8000 feet above sea level, that is too high. High-altitude air is less dense, which reduces aircraft lift and engine performance during takeoff, a critical hurdle for early propeller planes like the initial fleet of Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) planes acquired.

Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport is one of the highest capital-city hubs in the world. It wasn’t just a disadvantage for the airplanes, it was unhealthy for humans, especially visitors.

At such high elevation, lower atmospheric pressure means less oxygen reaches the bloodstream, a condition that can be dangerous for travellers arriving from low-altitude countries like Nigeria where their bodies are accustomed to oxygen-rich air.

For healthy travellers, the body usually adapts. But the risk is far greater for passengers with pre-existing cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, such as heart disease, chronic lung disease, or poorly controlled hypertension.

First time I travelled to Addis Ababa in 1999, I felt so sick that I was afraid I was going to die. Walking a short distance was a struggle as my heart was panting as if it would eject from my chest.

It was after one of my friends took me to a doctor that I got angry with myself for not putting my knowledge of geography to bear on my predicament.

After two to four visits, I started getting accustomed to the very thin air, and unlearned how to breathe effectively in high altitude.

The day I challenged the gods by walking the stairs up to the 10th floor, I nearly passed out, but it was the day I knew that I have fully adapted to the situation.

At such altitude, the heart and lungs must work harder to compensate for reduced oxygen, which can trigger complications including breathlessness, chest pain, and in severe cases, cardiac or respiratory failure.

It is a welcome news that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa has issued a travel warning to Nigerians after it recorded 16 deaths in a single year among citizens transiting through the city, reportedly linked to high-altitude health complications.

Granted that Ethiopian Airlines is well liked by Nigerians due to its vast network connectivity across Africa and the world, but it is important to know that If you are transiting through Addis Ababa and have any underlying heart or lung condition, or are unsure of your health status, abort mission.

This becomes imperative especially for elderly people. Stop transiting your aged parents via Addis Ababa.

Moreso, Ethiopian Airlines should go the extra mile by having a standby easily accessible medical team providing immediate health intervention for transiting passengers who report such health challenges.

Intending passengers with prior health issues should seek alternative route that avoids prolonged exposure to high elevation.

Healthy passengers should also stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and monitor for symptoms like severe headache or shortness of breath.

The lungs of Ethiopians and other East Africans like Kenyans have long adapted to this situation that’s why they dominate long distance endurance sports.

They have a slender leg-to-body biomechanics, high metabolic efficiency, and other factors that make them world champions on high endurance sports.