Fresh allegations of discriminatory treatment against Nigerian travelers have emerged at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, with several passengers accusing Ethiopian immigration officials of singling out Nigerians for special scrutiny, seizing passports, and subjecting them to humiliating procedures during a transit stop on June 21, 2026.
The incident reportedly involved passengers traveling from São Paulo, Brazil, to Lagos, Nigeria, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight transiting through Addis Ababa. According to multiple passengers who spoke to Ancestral News, immigration officials allegedly separated all holders of Nigerian passports from other travelers immediately upon arrival, directing them to a designated area for additional screening.
Witnesses claimed that while passengers of other nationalities—including Chinese, Brazilian, and European travelers—were allowed to proceed through routine transit procedures, Nigerians were subjected to intensive questioning and physical inspections.
One passenger, Prince Ade , who was on board the flight from Brazil, described the experience as humiliating and degrading.
“The embarrassment was too much. We were separated from everyone else simply because we carried Nigerian passports. Some of the officers spoke to us in a manner that suggested we were already guilty of something before any checks had been carried out,” he said.
According to passengers, immigration officials allegedly ordered Nigerian travelers to consume a liquid substance reportedly mixed with Coca-Cola as part of a screening process intended to detect the ingestion of narcotics. Travelers claimed they were not given detailed explanations regarding the procedure.
Several passengers further alleged that immigration officers made derogatory remarks about Nigeria and its government during the screening exercise.
“They didn’t even bother checking many of the other nationalities on the flight,” said Chinedu, another passenger. “They went straight for Nigerians. One officer allegedly said that the Nigerian government could do nothing about the treatment being given to its citizens.”
The allegations have sparked renewed concerns among members of the Nigerian diaspora regarding the treatment of Nigerian passport holders in foreign transit hubs. Travelers have long complained that holders of Nigerian passports often face heightened scrutiny, delays, and additional questioning at international airports despite possessing valid travel documents and visas.
Passengers also reported that several Nigerian travelers had their passports confiscated temporarily by immigration personnel. According to accounts provided to Ancestral News, some travelers were forced to repeatedly request the return of their passports even after they had been cleared to continue their journeys.
“The officers identified themselves as police officers and not immigration officials,” one passenger claimed. “Many of us became worried when our passports were not returned immediately. Some passengers feared they would miss their connecting flights.”
Witnesses stated that several passports remained in the possession of airport authorities until shortly before boarding commenced for the Lagos-bound flight. The delay reportedly created panic among affected passengers.
Perhaps most troubling were claims that some officials made openly hostile remarks toward Nigerian nationals. According to passengers interviewed by Ancestral News, one officer allegedly stated:
“Nigerians are our target. They are languishing in jail here.”
The alleged statement has generated outrage among Nigerian travelers, many of whom argue that the actions amount to profiling based solely on nationality rather than individual conduct.
The reported incident comes amid increasing calls for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen diplomatic engagement aimed at protecting Nigerian citizens abroad. Various diaspora organizations have repeatedly urged the Federal Government to challenge what they describe as the stigmatization of Nigerians in international travel corridors.
Critics argue that while Nigeria continues to promote bilateral relations with African and international partners, many Nigerian travelers still encounter treatment that they believe violates the principles of mutual respect and free movement.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Ethiopian immigration authorities nor Ethiopian Airlines had issued an official statement addressing the allegations. Likewise, no formal response had yet been released by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the claims made by the passengers. Ancestral News will continue to monitor developments and seek official reactions from both Nigerian and Ethiopian authorities.
