FG Bans Sale of Unregistered Locally Made Gin, NAFDAC To Punish Defaulters

The Nigerian government has banned the consumption of the local gin, popularly known as “Ogogoro or Kparaga or Kaikai” in all parts of the country. The ban on Monday followed the death of 38 persons in Rivers State and 18 persons in Ondo State who drank the local gin.

Reacting to the deaths arising from the consumption of local gin, the Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, told journalists that considering the risk in the consumption of locally made gin, it has become imperative to “warn the public to desist from the consumption of unregistered locally made spirits (Ogogoro) and other unregistered bitters.”

He also warned that the government “would confiscate all illegally brewed alcoholic beverages” across the country.

He explained that the symptoms suffered by victims included vomiting, abdominal pain, blurred vision, headache, dizziness and loss of consciousness with subsequent sudden deaths of 18 victims.

Orhii said that all indications showed that “these symptoms are the hallmark signs of methanol poisoning”.

“The results of the laboratory investigation revealed methanol toxicity. Five samples were found to contain high concentration of methanol in them. Blood methanol concentration above 1500-2000mg/L will certainly lead to death in untreated patients,” he added.