Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Canadian government has issued a formal travel advisory warning its citizens in Nigeria to exercise extreme caution when consuming alcohol, following reports of deaths and hospitalisations linked to methanol-contaminated drinks in Ondo State. The safety notice, issued on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, by Travel.gc.ca, the official travel advisory service of the Government of Canada, stated that "casualties have occurred in Nigeria due to the consumption of unregulated and adulterated alcohol containing high levels of methanol." The advisory urged Canadians to "buy alcohol from reputable establishments and seek medical assistance if you begin to feel sick."
The warning came days after Nigerian health officials confirmed that at least 48 people had died and approximately 180 others were receiving treatment in Ondo State after consuming a locally brewed alcoholic beverage suspected to contain methanol, a highly toxic substance that can cause multiple organ failure, blindness, and brain damage. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control confirmed the figures in an update issued on September 18, 2026, by its Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye. According to NAFDAC, the outbreak was initially reported in early September after residents who consumed the suspected concoctions developed sudden and severe illnesses. The affected communities are mainly in Odigbo Local Government Area, including Odigbo Town, Araromi-Obu, New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo and Oniparaga, with cases also reported in Irele Local Government Area.
Of the 182 affected persons, 90 have been treated and discharged, six remain hospitalised, and 31 were treated as outpatients. NAFDAC also reported that five people have become totally blind and two others partially blind. Those affected reportedly presented with symptoms including headache, severe body weakness and pain, visual disturbances, difficulty breathing, and altered consciousness, with some patients deteriorating rapidly. A survivor, 32-year-old Sola Adebayo, told TVC News from his hospital bed, "I took like two shots and I went out on Friday. On Saturday, I noticed that I could not see."
Preliminary laboratory investigations found high concentrations of methanol in samples of the suspected concoctions. NAFDAC said 15 unlabeled samples were subjected to toxicological, chemical, and microbiological examinations. "Gas chromatography confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol, while 11 of the samples also tested positive for Cannabis Indica," the agency stated. Animal toxicity testing also raised serious concerns, with approximately 50 percent mortality recorded in six of the 15 samples tested. NAFDAC said confirmatory analyses are still being conducted to determine the precise concentration of methanol and identify any other potentially toxic substances.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, described the rapid onset of the poisoning. "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," he told the Associated Press. Locals suspected that a popular herbal alcoholic drink known as "Monkey Tail" was mixed with methanol, causing the deaths. A trader who sells the concoction in Odigbo, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP that there are two versions of Monkey Tail: an original, safe version, and another version which is unsafe. The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that 15 people had been arrested in connection with the suspected production, sale, and distribution of the implicated beverages.
The incident has prompted the Ondo State Government to review the regulation of herbal and alcoholic products. The state government has also banned the production, distribution, and sale of locally prepared alcoholic drinks in the affected areas. Drinking homemade alcohol is common in Nigeria, especially in rural areas where it is more affordable and its production is not well-regulated. Methanol poisonings occur globally and have led to the deaths of young backpackers drinking at local bars. It is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but it can cause severe poisoning or death.
The Canadian advisory adds to growing international concern over the safety of locally produced alcohol in Nigeria. While the notice did not specify the number of casualties, it referenced the deaths and hospitalisations that have been widely reported by Nigerian authorities and international media. The advisory is a standard travel safety measure, but its issuance highlights the severity of the incident and the potential risks faced by foreign nationals in Nigeria. For Nigerians, the tragedy in Ondo State is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unregulated alcohol production and the urgent need for stronger enforcement of food and drug safety standards. As investigations continue and the death toll remains subject to verification, the question on everyone's mind is how many more lives must be lost before the production and sale of toxic concoctions are permanently stopped.
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