Canada has updated its Nigeria travel advisory to warn travellers about unregulated and adulterated alcohol containing methanol. The warning was added on 21 September, advising travellers to buy alcohol only from reputable establishments and to seek medical help if they begin to feel unwell. This move comes after a methanol poisoning outbreak in Ondo State left dozens dead.
Nigerian authorities report that 48 people died and around 182 others were treated after consuming a locally brewed alcoholic drink believed to contain methanol. The outbreak was concentrated in Odigbo Local Government Area, with additional cases reported in Irele. The exact source of the methanol is still under investigation, with locals linking the deaths to a locally made herbal alcoholic concoction known as "Monkey Tail".
Ondo State's commissioner for health, Banji Ajaka, explained that the effects of methanol poisoning can set in quickly, damaging the kidneys, eyes, and brain depending on the quantity consumed. Methanol is a toxic substance that can cause organ failure and respiratory failure. It is occasionally used as a cheaper substitute for ethanol in illicitly produced drinks or can appear as a byproduct of poorly distilled homebrew.
Fifteen people have been arrested in connection with the production, sale, and distribution of the implicated drinks, according to Ondo State police. Nigeria's food and drug regulator, NAFDAC, confirmed high methanol concentrations in unlabelled samples and enforced a nationwide ban on alcohol sold in sachets and small plastic containers.
NAFDAC also tested several samples positive for cannabis indica. The regulator's efforts aim to curb the production and distribution of unregulated and adulterated alcohol. Ondo State is reviewing the regulatory framework governing locally made herbal and alcoholic products to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister, Anita Anand, emphasized the importance of the travel advisory, highlighting the risks associated with consuming unregulated alcohol. The advisory serves as a warning to travellers in Nigeria to exercise caution when purchasing alcohol.
The methanol poisoning outbreak in Ondo State has raised concerns about the safety of locally produced alcoholic drinks in Nigeria. Authorities continue to investigate the source of the methanol contamination, and efforts are being made to regulate the production and distribution of alcoholic beverages in the country.
Key points
- 48 people died and 182 were treated after consuming a locally brewed alcoholic drink in Ondo State.
- Canada warned its citizens in Nigeria to be cautious when buying alcohol due to the risk of methanol poisoning.
- Fifteen people were arrested in connection with the production, sale, and distribution of the implicated drinks.
