Forty-eight people have died in Ondo State after consuming locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions contaminated with methanol, according to a preliminary investigation by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Five individuals have reportedly lost their sight entirely, while two others remain partially blind, with 182 cases recorded in total. The outbreak has reignited concerns about recurring lapses in safety measures, as the state experienced a similar methanol-poisoning crisis in 2015, which caused headaches, blurred vision, blindness, and fatalities in Irele and Odigbo Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The resurgence of the crisis has prompted critical questions about preventive systems implemented since 2015. Femi Da-Silva, CEO of AfriSAFE, emphasized that regulators, government agencies, and stakeholders must address gaps in monitoring production, testing products, educating communities, and tracking methanol supply chains. "Public confidence depends not only on regulations but on the integrity of the people and systems enforcing them," Da-Silva stated, urging accountability across all levels of oversight. The call extends beyond NAFDAC to include local governments, producers, distributors, and professional bodies tasked with safeguarding public health.
The tragedy has also intensified scrutiny of broader product safety concerns in Nigeria, as citizens voice doubts about the authenticity of everyday goods, including yoghurt and beverages. While NAFDAC has cautioned against unverified social media claims, the lack of independent testing and transparent communication of findings remains a pressing issue. Da-Silva argued that investigations must be prioritized to either clear manufacturers or take corrective action before further harm occurs. "Safety is not what we do after people die. It is everything we should have done to prevent them from dying," he asserted, highlighting the need for proactive systems over reactive measures.
Ondo’s current crisis underscores a systemic failure to learn from past tragedies. Despite the 2015 outbreak, no comprehensive reforms appear to have addressed vulnerabilities in regulatory enforcement or supply-chain monitoring. As calls grow for stricter accountability and transparency, the incident serves as a stark reminder that public safety requires sustained, multi-stakeholder commitment rather than ad hoc responses to preventable disasters.
methanol poisoning, Ondo State, NAFDAC, public safety, regulatory oversight, 2015 outbreak
48 dead in Ondo State amid recurring methanol poisoning crisis, echoing 2015 outbreak and exposing systemic safety failures.
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48 Dead in Ondo State: Recurring Methanol Poisoning Crisis Exposes Systemic Failures
methanol poisoning, Ondo State, NAFDAC, public safety, regulatory oversight, 2015 outbreak
48 people have died in Ondo State following a methanol poisoning outbreak linked to locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions, with 5 individuals losing full vision and 2 partially blind, according to a preliminary NAFDAC investigation. The tragedy echoes a 2015 incident in the same region, raising urgent questions about systemic failures in safety protocols and regulatory oversight.