Nigeria’s counterfeit alcohol crisis raises new concerns following a widespread alert on dangerous fake drinks. (VIDEO)
Images and allegations of counterfeit alcoholic beverages circulate quickly on social media and cause widespread concern, rekindling a rising fear that many believed was already under control.
Microbiologist Catia Kyen’s popular social media post, which featured footage of fake alcoholic beverages early on Thursday and urged consumers to choose water over such items, has rekindled public concern about the risks associated with counterfeit alcoholic beverages in Nigeria.
With over 167,000 views and a flurry of responses from worried Nigerians, the post rapidly received substantial online popularity.
While several users provided disturbing first-hand stories of young people experiencing kidney failure as a result of consuming fake alcohol, many others expressed fury.
The creation of a presidential task team to vigorously investigate and penalize individuals engaged in the manufacture and distribution of fake beverages was demanded by a number of commenters.
Fake alcoholic beverages often include methanol, a highly hazardous toxin that can cause blindness, organ failure, or death even in small amounts, as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has repeatedly warned.
The agency raided suspected production sites in Lagos in April 2026 and found counterfeit drinks worth about ₦350 million, including imitations of well-known brands like Smirnoff and Hennessy.
Ground-level operations have mostly persisted in spite of the involvement.
See Catia’s post below:
In this country, it feels like someone is just after your life in every corner. Anyone still drinking anything other than water has basically decided to gamble with their own life. Just stick to water, biko. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/aN0Lbe2hdT
— Plateau Militia Asian girl🌟 (@CatiaKyen) May 14, 2026
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