The Canadian government has warned its citizens travelling to Nigeria to be cautious about where they buy alcohol following reports of deaths linked to locally produced drinks suspected to contain dangerous levels of methanol.
This was disclosed in a safety and security advisory shared on X and seen by Dockaysworld. The Canadian government said casualties had been recorded in Nigeria following the consumption of unregulated and adulterated alcoholic drinks.
“Casualties have occurred in #Nigeria due to the consumption of unregulated and adulterated alcohol containing high levels of methanol.
Buy alcohol from reputable establishments and seek medical assistance if you begin to feel sick.”
The warning comes after local authorities in southern Nigeria reported on September 17 that at least 48 people had died while about 100 others were receiving treatment after consuming a locally brewed alcoholic drink suspected to have been contaminated with methanol.
According to a state health official, the affected cases were recorded in Odigbo and Irele Local Government Areas, with 182 people believed to have been affected.
Residents who spoke to The Associated Press suspected that a popular herbal alcoholic drink known as “Monkey Tail” may have been mixed with methanol.
A trader who sells the drink in Odigbo, speaking anonymously over fears of arrest, told AP that there are two versions of the drink, with one described as the original and safe version and the other as unsafe.
Local media reports said the first death linked to the incident was recorded nearly three weeks before the September 17 report.
The development comes amid renewed calls for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to strengthen enforcement against fake, adulterated and substandard products. Social media has also been awash with accounts and footage involving questionable products, raising concerns over consumer safety.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is already enforcing a nationwide ban on alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and small plastic containers, citing concerns over their accessibility to children and young people.
Locally produced alcoholic drinks remain widely consumed in Nigeria, particularly in rural communities where they are often cheaper and may operate outside formal regulatory controls.
