Health
NAFDAC confirms 48 deaths, 182 cases of illness linked to toxic herbal concoction in Ondo
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confirmed 48 deaths and 182 cases of severe illness following the reported consumption of locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions in parts of Ondo State.
The agency, in a statement dated on Friday and signed by its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Mojisola Adeyeye, a professor, said the affected communities are mainly in Odigbo Local Government Area, including New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga.
According to the agency, Odigbo town and Araromi-Obu recorded the highest impact, while cases have also been reported in Irele Local Government Area.
It stated that the figures, recorded as of 17 September, remain subject to verification as surveillance and investigations continue.
Given further breakdown, the agency noted that among 182 recorded cases confirmed, 90 people were admitted to hospitals and subsequently discharged while 31 were treated as outpatients and six remained hospitalised.
“As of 17th September 2026, a total of 182 cases have been recorded, with 48 deaths confirmed,” the agency stated.
Also, five affected persons had been rendered totally blind, while two others suffered partial blindness.
The agency’s preliminary findings found that those affected reportedly developed symptoms including headaches, generalised weakness and body pain, visual disturbances, difficulty breathing and altered consciousness, with some cases deteriorating rapidly.
NAFDAC’s examination on the substance
NAFDAC’s preliminary laboratory findings have raised fresh concerns over what was contained in the drinks consumed by the victims.
The agency said it subjected 15 unlabelled samples of the herbal concoction to laboratory examination which includes toxicity testing, and chemical analysis.
However, its preliminary laboratory investigation revealed that more than 73 per cent of the collected samples tested positive for cannabis indica, and gas chromatography on the samples confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol, a highly toxic substance capable of causing blindness, organ failure and death.
“Preliminary findings are gravely concerning: 11 of the 15 samples tested positive for cannabis indica, and gas chromatography confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol,” NAFDAC said.
The agency added that the result of acute oral toxicity tests conducted on the samples recorded approximately 50 per cent mortality among laboratory mice in six of the 15 samples analysed. It stated that the finding indicated “significant toxic potential” in the samples.
NAFDAC, however, cautioned that its laboratory findings remain preliminary, saying further confirmatory analyses are being conducted to establish the precise concentration of methanol and identify other potentially toxic substances in the concoctions.
The agency said the combination of the laboratory findings and the deaths and severe illnesses recorded among consumers warranted urgent regulatory and public health action.
As part of its response to the issue, the agency said 15 suspects had been arrested in connection with the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated alcoholic and herbal beverages.
“Surveillance, case management, and risk-control measures are actively ongoing across the affected communities, in coordination with relevant public health authorities,” the statement said.
The agency warned members of the public against consuming unlicensed, unregistered and locally prepared alcoholic or herbal concoctions whose contents are unknown.
“NAFDAC strongly warns the public against the purchase or consumption of unlicensed, unregistered, and locally prepared alcoholic or herbal concoctions of unknown composition,” the agency said.
Nigeria faces serious menace from unregulated herbal concoctions, often hawked on the streets and market places and promoted on social media. Many of these conctions have been linked to serious health risks including breathing problems, kidney and liver stress, and heavy metal poisoning.
Weak regulation, aggressive marketing, and widespread self-medication are fueling their proliferation.
In June 2023, an investigative report jointly published by PREMIUM TIMES and Dubawa, revealed through an extensive independent laboratory analysis that continuous consumption of a concoction known as “Sacra Herbs” or “Baba Aisha Herbal Medicine” posed a massive safety risk.
READ ALSO: NAFDAC orders recall, destruction of alcohol in sachets, PET bottles
It established that the concoction, popular in Abuja and some northern states, contained ttoxic components that could cause acute kidney, liver, and lung injuries, as well as cancer.
The investigation revealed that the herbal medicine was being manufactured inside a residential facility under highly unhygienic conditions, completely violating Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
The authorities initially clamped down on the producer, Salisu Sani, who called himself “Dr. Baba Aisha”, but no decisive enforcement action that could serve as deterence is known to have been carried out.
While the product carried NAFDAC registration numbers, the investigation proved that the numbers were either invalid or long-expired (having expired over three years prior).
The report also revealed failure of NAFDAC and health regulatory bodies to conduct proper due diligence and for allowing a toxic, unregistered product to be heavily marketed and sold to millions of citizens.
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A military cardiologist, Life Ajemba, has warned that hypertension, prolonged stress, and inadequate sleep could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease among serving military personnel and veterans.
Mr Ajemba, a major-general, said hypertension remains one of the most common cardiovascular conditions among serving personnel and military retirees.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja, he urged military personnel and veterans to prioritise their heart health through regular medical checks, physical exercise, healthy diets and adequate rest.
He cited studies which showed that hypertension accounted for 15.31 per cent of cases treated among mainly military retirees between 2015 and 2020.
He also referenced another study which found a hypertension prevalence of 34.3 per cent among military personnel.
He noted that major risk factors included alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, family history of cardiovascular disease and being overweight.
According to him, the demanding nature of military service could also increase cardiovascular risks due to physical stress, psychological trauma, irregular schedules and inadequate sleep.
“Military duties affect heart health through a combination of extreme physical stress, psychological trauma and environmental exposures that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease,” he said.
The military cardiologist explained that prolonged stress could increase the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure.
He added that sleep deprivation, anxiety and other psychological pressures could further increase the risk of hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke.
Mr Ajemba stressed the importance of regular medical screening among military personnel, saying early detection could help identify silent conditions such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and elevated blood sugar.
He said routine medical checks could include blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, blood tests, lipid profiles, electrocardiograms (ECGs), chest X-rays, and echocardiography where necessary.
READ ALSO: PT Health Watch: How Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension puts mother, baby at risk
“Early detection ensures that soldiers receive treatment while remaining fit for duty, preventing medical evacuation and safeguarding their long-term health,” he said.
He also encouraged military personnel to maintain regular physical exercise, saying fitness helped reduce blood pressure, improve heart efficiency and increase resistance to operational fatigue.
Mr Ajemba, however, advised personnel to combine physical fitness with healthy eating, adequate rest and avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
He said maintaining a healthy lifestyle could help military personnel reduce cardiovascular risks and remain fit both during active service and after retirement.
(NAN)
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The Plateau State Government and health stakeholders are developing a five-year transition plan to sustain HIV prevention, treatment and care as international donor funding for HIV programmes in Nigeria declines.
Ibinibo Chukwuemeka, Director of Health Systems Strengthening at APIN Public Health Initiatives, said the changing funding landscape would require greater government ownership and stronger measures to sustain HIV services as donor support winds down, according to a report by the Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Wednesday.
The AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, now known as APIN Public Health Initiatives, has supported HIV prevention, treatment and care in Plateau State for about 25 years.
APIN says its programmes have expanded HIV treatment access to rural and peri-urban communities, including through primary healthcare facilities.
The proposed five-year framework is expected to guide the state in assuming greater responsibility for financing and coordinating HIV services while protecting gains recorded in prevention, testing, treatment and care.
Health officials, representatives of relevant government ministries and other stakeholders are working on strategies to mitigate the impact of the anticipated reduction in donor support and prevent disruption of services for people living with HIV.
Among the measures under consideration is the integration of HIV and AIDS services into the Plateau State Health Insurance Scheme.
Stakeholders are also exploring local sources of antiretroviral drugs to help ensure uninterrupted access to treatment as external funding declines.
The proposed transition framework would provide a roadmap for sustaining HIV interventions and clarifying the responsibilities of the state government and other stakeholders in financing and delivering essential services.
The development comes amid a broader shift in Nigeria’s HIV response towards greater domestic financing and government ownership.
In June, the Federal Government launched the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan 2026–2030, which prioritises domestic financing, expansion of health insurance and integration of HIV services into the broader healthcare system as the country seeks to reduce dependence on donor-supported interventions.
The need for alternative financing has become more pressing as international support for HIV programmes declines.
Nigeria’s existing national HIV financing framework has also identified locally produced antiretroviral drugs and increased government investment as potential ways of reducing the country’s funding vulnerability.
Plateau has previously taken steps towards greater domestic ownership of its HIV response.
READ ALSO: Body with parts removed found near Plateau market
At the state’s 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration, officials disclosed that 51,370 people were living with HIV in the state as of September 2025, while 47,056 adults and 1,835 children were receiving antiretroviral therapy.
The state’s HIV response recorded 2,786 new infections and 460 HIV-related deaths in 2024, according to figures presented by the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Ba’amlong, in December 2025.
The success of the proposed transition will depend largely on sustained government funding, effective planning and the ability of the state health system to absorb services previously supported by external partners.
For people living with HIV, stakeholders say ensuring uninterrupted access to antiretroviral treatment and other essential services must remain central to the transition.
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