Federal Government bans the consumption of local gin (Ogogo)

It is now criminal to consume this
brand of local gin in Nigeria
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It’s Criminal To
Consume
Unregistered Brew
Gin, Ogogoro,
Kparaga, Bitter In
Nigeria
LAGOS JUNE 9TH
(URHOBOTODAY)-Any one caught
comsuming local made gin,
popularly known as “Ogogoro or
Kparaga or Kaikai”, will be
charged to court for criminal
proceedings as the Federal
Government on Monday banned
the consumption of this
particular gin brand in all parts
of the country.
The decision was as a result of
deaths that trailed the
consumption of the local gin in
Rivers and Ondo states. The
government however confirmed
that the death toll in Rivers State
had risen to 38 while 18 people
had died in Ode-Irele, Ondo
State, following the consumption
of the local gin. The Director-
General of National Agency for
Food and Drugs Administration
and Control, Dr. Paul Orhii, in
his reaction to the death of 38
persons in Rivers State, told
journalists that the recent
incidents in Rivers and Ondo
states were associated with the
consumption of locally made gin.
According to him, considering the
risk in the consumption of locally
made gin, it has become imperative
to “warn the public to desist from
the consumption of unregistered
locally made spirits (Ogogoro) and
other unregistered bitters.”
He also warned that the
government “would confiscate all
illegally brewed alcoholic
beverages” across the country.
Orhii, who also recommended
“immediate reporting and
evacuation of victims to the nearest
tertiary health institution as quick
intervention can save lives,” said
the NAFDAC team met with the
Ondo State Commissioner for
Health and Director of Diagnostic
Services and an official of the
World Health Organisation, who
visited Ode-Irele to obtain first-
hand information.
“A preliminary investigation by the
National Centre for Disease Control
and WHO, ruled out any infectious
diseases and confirmed the
possibility of poisoning as the
cause, and in turn, advised
NAFDAC to conduct further
investigation. “The symptoms
suffered by victims included
vomiting, abdominal pain, blurred
vision, headache, dizziness and loss
of consciousness with subsequent
sudden deaths of 18 victims,”
NAFDAC boss said. Orhii, who was
joined by the Director of NCDC,
Prof. Abdulrahman Nasidi,
explained that all indications
showed that “these symptoms are
the hallmark signs of methanol
poisoning.”
“The results of the laboratory
investigation revealed methanol
toxicity. Five samples were found
to contain high concentration of
methanol in them. Blood methanol
concentration above 1500-2000mg/L
will certainly lead to death in
untreated patients,” the NAFDAC
DG said.