Canada has formally cautioned its citizens in Nigeria about the risks of buying alcohol following a methanol poisoning outbreak in Ondo State that has killed 48 people. The warning was incorporated into Canada's official travel advisory for Nigeria on 21 September, according to the country's Foreign Affairs Minister, Anita Anand.
Travel Advisory Update and Official Warning
The updated advisory states that casualties have occurred due to the consumption of unregulated and adulterated alcohol containing high levels of methanol. It advises travellers to purchase alcohol only from reputable establishments and to seek medical help immediately if they begin to feel unwell. The notice did not specify a casualty figure, but Nigerian authorities reported last week that 48 people had died and around 182 others had been treated after consuming a locally brewed alcoholic drink believed to contain methanol.
Methanol is a toxic substance that can cause organ failure and respiratory failure. The outbreak was concentrated in Odigbo Local Government Area, with additional cases reported in Irele, according to Ondo State's commissioner for health, Banji Ajaka.
Health Impact and Local Response
Ajaka told the Associated Press that the effects of methanol can set in quickly, with the substance capable of damaging the kidneys, eyes, and brain depending on the quantity consumed. Locals have linked the deaths to a locally made herbal alcoholic concoction known as "Monkey Tail," though authorities say the exact source of the methanol is still under investigation.
Nigeria's food and drug regulator, NAFDAC, said gas chromatography testing on unlabelled samples confirmed high methanol concentrations and that several samples also tested positive for cannabis indica.
Arrests and Regulatory Measures
Fifteen people have been arrested in connection with the production, sale, and distribution of the implicated drinks, according to Ondo State police. NAFDAC has also enforced a nationwide ban on alcohol sold in sachets and small plastic containers. Ondo State says it is reviewing the regulatory framework governing locally made herbal and alcoholic products.
Methanol, a colourless alcohol also used in industrial solvents, paint, and antifreeze, is occasionally used as a cheaper substitute for ethanol in illicitly produced drinks, or can appear as a byproduct of poorly distilled homebrew. Poisonings linked to it have occurred in other countries, including cases involving travellers at unregulated bars.
