The Ondo State Government has officially confirmed the deaths of 48 individuals and 182 reported cases linked to suspected methanol poisoning from a local alcoholic drink. The confirmation, announced on September 17, 2026, by state health authorities, has sent ripples of concern across communities affected by the tragic outbreak.
This latest incident underscores the persistent public health challenge posed by unregulated and illicit local alcohol production in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas. The victims, primarily from various communities within the state, reportedly consumed a local gin suspected to be heavily contaminated with methanol, a highly toxic chemical.
The severity of the outbreak has prompted an urgent response from the state government, which has mobilised medical teams and initiated a comprehensive investigation into the source of the contaminated beverage. Authorities are working to identify and prosecute those responsible for producing and distributing the harmful substance.
Dr. Banji Ajaka, the Ondo State Commissioner for Health, in a statement to journalists, revealed the grim figures, stating that medical facilities across the affected local government areas were overwhelmed with cases exhibiting symptoms consistent with methanol poisoning. These symptoms include blurred vision, abdominal pain, vomiting, and in severe cases, blindness, kidney failure, and death.
The Commissioner emphasised the critical need for public awareness regarding the dangers of consuming unregulated local drinks. He urged residents to avoid purchasing alcoholic beverages from unverified sources and to report any suspected cases immediately to the nearest health facility. The state government has also activated an emergency response plan, deploying medical personnel and essential supplies to manage the influx of patients and prevent further fatalities.
Recurring Public Health Crisis
Methanol poisoning from illicitly brewed alcohol is a recurring public health crisis in Nigeria, with Ondo State having faced similar tragic incidents in the past. In 2015, a methanol poisoning outbreak in Ode-Irele, Ondo State, claimed over 20 lives, drawing national attention to the lack of regulation in the local gin industry. Other states, including Plateau and Rivers, have also recorded significant fatalities from similar occurrences over the years.
These incidents often arise from producers using industrial-grade ethanol or methanol in an attempt to cut costs or increase the potency of their drinks, unaware of or indifferent to the severe health risks. Unlike potable ethanol, methanol is highly toxic and can cause irreversible damage to the human body even in small quantities.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is the federal body responsible for regulating food, drugs, and other consumables, including alcoholic beverages. However, the prevalence of small-scale, unregulated, and often clandestine distilleries in remote communities makes enforcement challenging. NAFDAC typically issues warnings against the consumption of unregistered alcoholic products and conducts raids on illegal production sites, but the sheer scale of the illicit trade continues to pose a significant hurdle.
Community leaders and civil society organisations have called for more stringent measures, including increased surveillance, public enlightenment campaigns in local languages, and severe penalties for those involved in the production and distribution of poisonous substances. There is also a call for economic empowerment programmes to dissuade individuals from engaging in such hazardous practices.
The Ondo State Government has committed to working with NAFDAC and other relevant agencies to intensify efforts aimed at eradicating the production and sale of unwholesome alcoholic beverages. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact source and distribution network of the contaminated gin. The government also plans to launch a robust public education campaign to sensitise residents to the dangers of unregulated alcohol consumption and promote safer alternatives, as reported by Vanguard News.
As medical teams continue to treat the remaining 182 reported cases, the focus remains on saving lives and preventing a repeat of this devastating incident. The tragic deaths serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a more coordinated and sustained approach to public health and safety in the face of unregulated commerce.
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