The Ondo State Government has imposed a ban on the sale and distribution of unverified alcoholic drinks and other substances across the state.
The directive is coming after about 30 persons died after consuming a local herbal alcoholic mixture known as ‘monkey tail’.
The incident, which occurred in the Odigbo Local Government Area, also left about 50 others hospitalised, prompting the government to take immediate measures to prevent further casualties.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, announced the directive in a statement, saying the measure was aimed at containing the incident and protecting residents from potentially harmful products.
The ban covers alcoholic drinks and other substances sold in sachets, bottles or other forms where their source, contents or regulatory status cannot be verified.
Ajanaku said the Ministry of Health had commenced investigations into the substance suspected to have caused the deaths, adding that scientific officers had been deployed to affected communities to determine the substance involved.
“Under the leadership of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the government is leaving no stone unturned in the efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, protect the lives of our people and prevent further casualties,” the statement said.
The government cautioned residents against buying or consuming alcoholic drinks and other substances whose authenticity and regulatory approval could not be established, particularly products packaged in sachets or bottles without approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.
It also ordered traders and distributors to immediately stop purchasing, selling or distributing any product whose source, contents or regulatory status cannot be verified.
The government warned that violators of the directive would be prosecuted and face the full force of the law.
Security agencies across the state have equally been directed to clamp down immediately on the sale and distribution of illegal and unapproved products.
Residents were advised to remain alert and report suspicious products, vendors and distribution activities to the appropriate authorities.
“Protecting lives and safeguarding public health remains a collective responsibility,” the government said, urging residents to cooperate with health officials and security agencies as investigations into the incident continue.
