The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a warning to British nationals visiting Nigeria over the growing risk of methanol poisoning from counterfeit, adulterated alcoholic drinks.
The updated advisory, released on October 21 2025, places Nigeria among eight countries where travellers are urged to take precautions following reports of deaths and serious illnesses linked to toxic alcohol consumption in various parts of the world.
According to the FCDO, methanol, a highly toxic industrial alcohol sometimes used illegally to increase the strength of drinks can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion.
In severe cases, victims may experience blurred vision, permanent blindness, organ failure or death.
The agency warned that methanol cannot be detected by taste or smell and advised travellers to drink only from sealed, branded bottles purchased at licensed venues.
The UK government’s notice aligns with ongoing warnings from Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) about the circulation of fake alcoholic products in local markets.
NAFDAC has in recent years conducted raids across several states, uncovering illegal production sites where counterfeit spirits and wines were mixed, bottled and packaged under unhygienic conditions.
In one major operation at Cemetery Market in Aba, Abia State, NAFDAC officials seized large quantities of adulterated wines and spirits allegedly produced with harmful chemicals in recycled bottles.
The agency cautioned that such drinks could cause liver and kidney failure, blindness or death.
NAFDAC has repeatedly urged Nigerians to verify the authenticity of drinks before purchase and to patronise only licensed dealers.
The agency also warned consumers to avoid unusually cheap alcoholic products or those with broken seals, poorly printed labels or irregular bottle shapes.
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Health experts stress that immediate medical attention is critical in suspected cases of methanol poisoning.
Treatment may involve administering antidotes such as fomepizole or ethanol, correcting metabolic acidosis and, in severe cases, performing haemodialysis to remove toxins from the bloodstream.
The FCDO advisory further cautions travellers to be wary of street-sold drinks, homemade spirits and large shared cocktails often served in buckets or jugs at informal bars.
It recommends purchasing only from reputable hotels, restaurants and supermarkets, and seeking urgent medical care if any symptoms occur after drinking.
Although the UK warning does not discourage alcohol consumption altogether, it underscores the need for vigilance as counterfeit alcohol remains a significant public-health concern in Nigeria.