The Canadian government has warned its citizens travelling to Nigeria to avoid unregulated and adulterated alcoholic drinks following reports of deaths and illnesses linked to beverages containing high levels of methanol.
The warning was added to Canada’s official Travel Advice and Advisories for Nigeria, under its “Safety and security” section. The advisory, updated on September 24, 2026, says casualties have occurred after people consumed unregulated and adulterated alcohol containing high levels of methanol.
Canada advises travellers to buy alcohol from reputable establishments and seek medical attention if they begin to feel unwell after drinking.
The warning comes amid a suspected poisoning outbreak in Ondo State involving locally prepared alcoholic and herbal drinks. According to figures provided by Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the outbreak had been linked to 48 deaths, 182 illnesses and seven cases of blindness as of September 17, 2026.
NAFDAC said it tested 15 unlabelled samples of the suspected drinks using toxicology, chemical and microbiological examinations. Eleven of the 15 samples reportedly tested positive for Cannabis indica, while gas chromatography detected high levels of methanol.
Methanol is a toxic form of alcohol that can cause serious poisoning, including visual impairment, organ damage and death. The agency also conducted acute oral toxicity tests on six samples, which resulted in approximately 50 per cent mortality among laboratory mice.
NAFDAC said additional testing would establish the precise methanol concentrations and determine whether other toxic substances were present. The agency also reported that 15 people had been arrested over the suspected production, sale and distribution of the drinks.
Canada Maintains Wider Nigeria Travel Advisory
The alcohol warning forms part of a broader Canadian travel advisory for Nigeria. Canada currently advises citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Nigeria, including Abuja, citing risks associated with terrorism, crime, inter-communal clashes, armed attacks and kidnapping.
However, the advisory makes a separate distinction for Lagos and Calabar, where Canadian travellers are advised to exercise a high degree of caution rather than avoid non-essential travel.
Canada’s latest warning specifically highlights the risks associated with alcohol from unregulated sources, reinforcing the need for travellers to verify where drinks are purchased and to avoid products with unknown ingredients or origins.
