Women Laud FG For Banning Ogogoro Consumption

Women in Nsukka, Enugu
State have described the nationwide ban on the sale and consumption of local gin known as ‘ogogoro’ as a welcome development.
The women, who spoke in separate interviews with newsmen in Nsukka, said the ban would reduce “untimely deaths’’ and cases of mental illness among the consumers, especially the youth.
A health worker, Mrs Vivian Nwoye, said the local gin caused serious health problems to many people, especially those living in rural areas.
“Many people have died from the consumption of local gin while others have complications from their health problems.
“Kai-kai, as the local gin is also called, has made some people to become mad overnight because their brains can no longer function effectively.
‘‘Some families today are facing infertility problems because either the man or the woman is an addict,” Nwoye said.
For Mrs Ngozi Ezema, a secondary school teacher, the ban on ogogoro consumption is one of the best things that had happened in Nigeria.
“I know of a village where a young man stabbed the mother to death after taking local gin because of a little misunderstanding.
“Some men refuse to give money to their wives for food for the family because, every morning and evening they go to local gin joint to drink themselves to stupor.
“The government should ensure strict enforcement of the ban. It will make some men to live up to their family’s financial responsibilities,’’ she said.
A human rights activist, Mrs Rita Aleke, commended the government for the ban but urged it to ensure that it closed down companies or business places where the gin is brewed.
Aleke said that such action would shut down the supply routes and retail outlets.
“It will be an exercise in futility if the government did not close places where local gin is produced. The government should not also stop at arresting sellers and confiscating the goods.
“It should put a legislation that will spell out how many years offenders will be jailed. If this ban is strictly enforced, very soon the number of mad people on our streets will reduce drastically,” she said.
The Director-General of the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, announced the ban recently while speaking with newsmen.
Orhii said the ban became imperative after 38 persons in Rivers and 18 in Ondo lost their lives at different times after consuming the liquor.