The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Ondo State has urged regulators to intensify inspections and prosecute those responsible for counterfeit beverages, warning on Monday, October 26, that young people are developing serious liver and kidney conditions. The warning follows a September poisoning outbreak in which the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) reported 48 deaths and 182 cases linked to suspected contaminated drinks.
The NMA’s call comes as Nigeria’s beverage regulators pursue suspected counterfeit production, illegal packaging and the resale of expired drinks. NAFDAC’s September investigation found high concentrations of methanol in 15 samples of unlabelled locally prepared alcoholic and herbal drinks, although the causes of the separate liver and kidney cases cited by the NMA have not been established.
Young Patients Raise Concern
Roland Arohunmolase, chairman of the NMA in Ondo State, said doctors were concerned about cases of liver cirrhosis among teenagers and people in their twenties. The association did not provide figures for the cases, explaining that some investigations were ongoing, and said further work was needed to determine the causes of individual illnesses.
The warning comes after the poisoning incidents in Odigbo and Irele, which the NMA linked to at least 48 deaths, and an earlier incident in Ilere involving methanol. Methanol is an industrial chemical that can cause severe poisoning, including blindness and organ damage. NAFDAC’s September findings established contamination in tested samples, but they do not prove that counterfeit beverages caused every liver or kidney condition now under investigation.
Formal Retail Under Scrutiny
The association alleges that unsafe drinks are reaching consumers through supermarkets, hotels, bars and other retail outlets, extending the concern beyond informal markets. It has urged the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and Ondo State authorities to carry out unannounced inspections, seize products that fail safety standards and prosecute manufacturers, distributors and retailers found responsible.
The demand adds pressure on regulators already investigating suspected illicit beverage operations. On October 19, NAFDAC uncovered a suspected counterfeit alcoholic-drink production facility in Aba, Abia State, where equipment and materials were valued at more than ₦500 million. The agency has not established whether finished products from that facility reached consumers, and no connection between the Aba operation and the Ondo poisoning cases has been confirmed.
Manufacturers Urged to Improve Checks
Arohunmolase also called on beverage manufacturers to strengthen anti-counterfeiting measures, including tamper-proof seals, holographic security features, unique QR codes and product-tracking systems. The measures could help consumers and retailers check product authenticity, although packaging security alone cannot establish whether a drink is chemically safe.
The association advised consumers to be wary of drinks sold significantly below prevailing market prices and to inspect bottle seals, labels and packaging before purchase. It also urged anyone who suspects they have consumed a contaminated drink to seek medical attention promptly rather than wait for symptoms to appear.
