SWAN Calls on Media Support to Tackle Nigeria’s Illicit Alcohol Trade
The Spirits and Wines Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has urged the media to play a pivotal role in the fight against the burgeoning illicit alcohol trade that threatens public health and the nation’s economy.
Speaking at the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria’s (BJAN) monthly breakfast round table in Lagos, SWAN’s Director-General, Mr. Tony Okwoju, highlighted the alarming rise in counterfeit spirits and called for collaborative efforts to combat the dangerous trade that costs Nigeria an estimated ₦472 billion annually, which accounts for about 40% of the market share.
Okwoju also announced an upcoming One-Day Workshop scheduled for April 22, 2026, where enforcement agencies and key stakeholders will collaborate on strategies to curb illicit alcohol trade in Nigeria.
SWAN, comprising notable member companies, emphasizes that the surge in counterfeit products poses a threefold threat: it drains government revenue, endangers billions in private sector investments, and jeopardizes public health.
Referring to a Deloitte report, Okwoju highlighted that Nigeria annually loses an estimated ₦472 billion due to illicit trade, which accounts for about 40% of the market share.
He further explained the health risks associated with consuming adulterated products:
“Illegal manufacturers are increasingly using methanol, a toxic industrial alcohol used instead of ethanol, to concoct fake spirits. Methanol has no colour or flavour, which makes it particularly difficult to detect in drinks.
“Unlike ethanol, methanol is unfit for human consumption and can lead to permanent blindness, organ failure, or immediate death.
“These counterfeiters are not just faking brands, they are killing people,” the SWAN DG stated.
Highlighting the challenges posed by low awareness and weak enforcement, Okwoju outlined measures SWAN has adopted to sanitize the industry, including aggressive recycling of used bottles to deny counterfeiters access to their primary tools.
“Criminal syndicates are known to scavenge high-end dumpsters and bars to collect empty branded bottles, which they subsequently refill with low-quality, toxic mixtures.
“To counter this, major manufacturers are now deploying teams to bars and nightclubs across Nigeria to retrieve and crush their own empty glass containers.
“Although the initiative costs organizations more money, these bottles are then sent to specialised recycling plants, to ensure they cannot be reused by illicit traders,” Okwoju explained.
He added that the upcoming April 22 stakeholders forum aims to unite regulatory agencies and government parastatals to develop solutions for the rising counterfeit alcohol problem.
BJAN Chairman Daniel Obi remarked that the meeting reflects the increasing collaboration between associations and underscores their shared commitment to promoting excellence, responsibility, and sustainable growth within Nigeria’s beverage industry.
“Today’s engagement provides a valuable platform for dialogue—an opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships, and explore ways we can collectively enhance industry standards, improve public perception, and support responsible consumption across the country.”
He concluded, “We believe that through collaboration with organizations like SWAN, we can amplify positive narratives and contribute meaningfully to national development.”