Lagos: About 70 people have died in Nigeria's oil-rich south after consuming home-brewed gin that was found to contain large amounts of methanol, senior health officials said today.
Somiari Harry, permanent secretary of the health ministry in Rivers state, said deaths from drinking the gin known locally as "ogogoro" were recorded in five local government areas.
"The death toll so far recorded from the consumption of ogogoro is about 70," Harry told AFP.
Ogogoro is a west African alcoholic drink usually brewed locally and popular in Nigeria, where it is made from the juice of raffia palm trees and sold cheaply.
Alcohol content can range from 30 to 60 per cent.
The deaths, which first came to light earlier this month, have led to Rivers imposing a total, state-wide ban on the manufacture, sale and distribution of the drink.
Health ministry officials have been deployed to enforce the ruling.
The director of the centre for disease control in Rivers state, Nnanna Onyekwere, confirmed the death toll and said there had been 80 reported cases in the five areas.
The state capital, Port Harcourt, is one of the areas affected.
"We collected samples of ogogoro consumed and sent them for laboratory examination," said Onyekwere.
"NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) found that that the liquor contained large doses of methanol which is injurious to health."
No new cases have been reported in the past week, he added.
The deaths came after more than 20 people died from drinking local gin in the southwest town of Ode-Irele in April.
Some state governments outlaw the sale and consumption of ogogoro because consumers are easily intoxicated due to its high alcohol content.
Ogogoro is an essential part of religious and social events, including marriages and child-naming ceremonies.
Somiari Harry, permanent secretary of the health ministry in Rivers state, said deaths from drinking the gin known locally as "ogogoro" were recorded in five local government areas.
"The death toll so far recorded from the consumption of ogogoro is about 70," Harry told AFP.
Alcohol content can range from 30 to 60 per cent.
Advertisement
Health ministry officials have been deployed to enforce the ruling.
Advertisement
The state capital, Port Harcourt, is one of the areas affected.
Advertisement
"NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) found that that the liquor contained large doses of methanol which is injurious to health."
Advertisement
The deaths came after more than 20 people died from drinking local gin in the southwest town of Ode-Irele in April.
Advertisement
Ogogoro is an essential part of religious and social events, including marriages and child-naming ceremonies.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Nutritionist Recommends 5 Non-Alcoholic Drinks For Dining Out During Weight Loss UP Inspector Among 3 Cops Suspended For Drinking Alcohol In Office: Police Swiggy, Zomato Might Soon Deliver Alcohol In These States: Report Massive Worldwide Microsoft Outage: Flights, Markets, Stock Exchange Down CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor: The Culprit Behind World's Biggest IT Outage UPSC Cracks Down, Says Puja Khedkar Faked Identity, Parents' Name, Address Watch: Drone Whizzes Across Skyline In Israel, Hits Building Near US Embassy Microsoft Outage "Affecting IT Operations" Paris Olympics Organisers In Jaw-Dropping Video, 12-Foot King Cobra Rescued And Released In Karnataka Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.