AKURE — The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a critical public health alert warning Nigerians about the dangerous influx of counterfeit alcoholic and soft beverages linked to a alarming spike in life-threatening organ illnesses.
The medical body cautioned that the consumption of unwholesome, adulterated drinks has triggered a rise in cases of acute kidney failure, liver cirrhosis, and severe toxic internal organ damage across communities.
Speaking at a media conference on Monday in Akure, the Ondo State Chapter Chairman of the NMA, Dr. Roland Arohunmolase, disclosed that healthcare workers have observed an abnormal surge in patients presenting severe internal organ failure traceably linked to fake liquid products.
Dr. Arohunmolase revealed that the crisis has worsened because fake beverage cartels are no longer restricted to informal roadside markets. According to the medical association, fake wines, spirits, and bottled soft drinks have aggressively infiltrated mainstream commercial spaces, including major supermarkets, hotels, bars, and licensed retail outlets.
The association stressed that illicit manufacturers utilize toxic chemical compounds, contaminated water, and unapproved industrial additives to replicate popular brand names, posing immediate lethal threats to human digestive and renal systems.
Calling for immediate state and federal enforcement, the NMA urged regulatory bodies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and law enforcement agencies, to launch an aggressive crackdown on illegal bottling networks and distribution chains.
The medical professional association further advised members of the public to strictly inspect tamper-evident seals, scan product verification codes, and report suspicious symptoms or dubious products immediately to health authorities rather than self-medicating.
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