ABUJA, NIGERIA — The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disowned a viral flyer warning Nigerians to stop drinking alcohol, describing its claim that 90 per cent of alcoholic beverages sold in the country are fake, adulterated and deadly as unauthorised and misleading.
The agency issued the clarification on Sunday, November 15, 2026, after the publication circulated widely on social media bearing NAFDAC’s name and official logo. It urged Nigerians to disregard the message and avoid sharing it as an authentic public health announcement.
The flyer, titled “Urgent Public Health Warning: Stop Drinking Alcohol Now,” called on Nigerians to immediately stop consuming alcoholic beverages. It alleged that nine out of every 10 alcoholic drinks sold in the country were counterfeit or contaminated and could cause serious health complications.
Among the dangers listed in the publication were rapid kidney and liver failure, severe vomiting, abdominal pain, permanent blindness and sudden death. However, NAFDAC said it neither produced nor authorised the flyer and rejected the claims attributed to it.
In its statement published through its verified X account, the agency said the circulating material should not be regarded as an official warning or regulatory communication.
NAFDAC also advised members of the public to obtain public health information and product safety alerts directly from its recognised communication channels. It warned against spreading unverified messages capable of generating unnecessary fear and confusion.
The clarification comes amid genuine concerns about counterfeit and adulterated alcoholic beverages in Nigeria, where regulatory authorities have continued enforcement operations against illegal producers, distributors and outlets dealing in unsafe products.
In October 2026, NAFDAC operatives reportedly raided more than 20 illegal stores at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, recovering counterfeit and revalidated alcoholic products valued at more than N2 billion. Two suspects were also reportedly arrested during the operation.
The agency’s enforcement activities reflect continuing efforts to address the circulation of products that may pose serious health risks to consumers. However, the existence of counterfeit drinks does not establish the viral flyer’s sweeping claim that 90 per cent of all alcoholic beverages sold in Nigeria are fake.
One of the major dangers associated with adulterated alcoholic beverages is methanol contamination. Methanol is a toxic industrial chemical that is not safe for consumption. When ingested, it can cause severe poisoning, damage to vital organs, blindness and death.
Nigeria has previously recorded fatal incidents linked to suspected methanol-contaminated locally produced alcoholic drinks. In September 2026, an outbreak in parts of Ondo State reportedly left at least 48 people dead, with additional victims requiring medical treatment. Authorities suspected that a locally brewed alcoholic concoction had been contaminated.
That incident demonstrated the serious consequences of consuming unsafe alcoholic products and reinforced the importance of effective regulation, public awareness and responsible consumer behaviour.
NAFDAC has therefore continued to encourage consumers to purchase alcoholic beverages from reputable and authorised outlets. Nigerians are also advised to examine product labels, seals, packaging and registration details before buying drinks.
Consumers who suspect that a beverage is counterfeit, adulterated or otherwise unsafe are encouraged to report it through the agency’s official channels rather than relying on unverified social media publications.
The agency’s clarification also highlights the importance of distinguishing between a genuine regulatory alert and a fabricated publication that uses an official institution’s identity to give credibility to unsupported claims.
For manufacturers and legitimate distributors, false warnings can create unnecessary public anxiety, damage consumer confidence and affect businesses whose products comply with regulatory requirements.
NAFDAC’s position, however, does not mean that all alcoholic beverages are automatically safe or that counterfeit products are no longer a concern. Its warning is specifically directed at the unauthorised flyer and the unsupported 90 per cent statistic.
The agency’s latest intervention is therefore a reminder that public health information should be verified before it is circulated, particularly when it makes sweeping claims about products consumed by millions of Nigerians.
As enforcement against counterfeit and adulterated beverages continues, the agency is urging the public to rely on evidence-based safety alerts and follow official guidance when concerns arise over particular products.
