Spurious liquor claims 70 lives in Nigeria

Lagos

Home-brewed gin locally known as “ogogoro” claimed 70 lives in Nigeria after it was found to contain large amount of methanol, health officials said today.

 The liquor tragedy was recorded in five local government areas, said Somiari Harry, permanent secretary of the health ministry in Rivers state.

"The death toll so far recorded from the consumption of ogogoro is about 70," Harry told AFP.

 Ogogoro is a West African alcoholic drink made from the juice of raffia palm trees, brewed locally and sold cheap. Alcohol content in orgogoro can range from 30 to 60 per cent.

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," he added.

Some state governments outlaw the sale and consumption of ogogoro because consumers are easily intoxicated due to its high alcohol content.