48 Dead in Ondo: Canada Urges Its Citizens To Avoid Unsafe Alcohol In Nigeria

The Canadian government has advised its citizens living in or travelling to Nigeria to avoid consuming unregulated alcoholic drinks following the recent deaths and hospitalisations linked to suspected methanol poisoning in Ondo State.

The warning comes days after Nigerian health authorities confirmed that at least 48 people died, while about 180 others were receiving treatment after drinking a locally brewed alcoholic beverage believed to have been contaminated with methanol.

In a travel safety notice issued on Tuesday, Canadian authorities urged their nationals to buy alcoholic drinks only from trusted outlets and to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms after drinking.

“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.”

Although the advisory did not specify the number of casualties, it followed the deadly incident in Ondo State, where health officials linked the outbreak to suspected methanol contamination.

Methanol is a poisonous industrial alcohol that is unsafe for human consumption. Medical experts warn that it can cause blindness, brain damage, kidney failure, breathing difficulties and, in severe cases, death.

One of the survivors, 32-year-old Sola Adebayo, recounted how he suddenly lost his sight after consuming the drink.

“I took like two shots and I went out on Friday. On Saturday, I noticed that I could not see.”

Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, said the toxic substance acts quickly and can cause irreversible damage within a short period.

> “This thing happened rapidly. Once they consume it, depending on the quantity, the kidneys will pack up, the eyes will go, the brain will be damaged.”

As investigations continue, the police have arrested 15 suspects in connection with the production and distribution of the suspected toxic drink.

Residents reportedly believe that a popular local herbal alcoholic beverage known as Monkey Tail may have been adulterated with methanol before it was sold to consumers. Authorities have yet to officially confirm the exact source of the contamination.

The incident has renewed concerns over the consumption of locally produced alcoholic drinks in some rural communities, where homemade beverages are often cheaper and less regulated than commercially manufactured products.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has in recent years intensified efforts to improve alcohol safety, including enforcing a nationwide ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small plastic containers as part of measures to reduce abuse and protect public health.

Health authorities have urged members of the public to purchase alcoholic drinks only from licensed and reputable outlets and to seek urgent medical attention if they experience symptoms such as blurred vision, vomiting, difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness after consuming alcohol.