THE news has been everywhere of deaths arising
from consumption of a local gin popularly known
as Kaikai in Rivers State. The development has
prompted the Federal Government to place, what
many see as a temporary, ban on consumption of
the local gin which is easily identified in the
South West part of the country as Ogogoro.
But it would appear that government’s response
in this regard has not gone down well with some
people in the state who stridently argue that
Kaikai is safe for drinking in spite of recent
deaths associated with its consumption.
In fact, while stressing that they cannot do
without it, they further argued that instead of
trying to make a mountain out of a molehill,
government should concern itself on more serious
matters and leave Kaikai alone.
And to underline their position in this regard, they
have been visiting their popular haunts in search
of Kaikai or Ogogoro to buy. This was the
situation on Monday as a middle-aged man
allegedly strolled to a spot in Ahoada East to
order for the drink with scant regard that his
action would amount to suicide.
Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee constituted by
the Rivers State House of Assembly, Michael
Chinda, to investigate issues around the
poisonous Kaikai in the state said the man first
announced to those around that it was not the
local gin that was killing people before consuming
what he had ordered for.
Not too long after the consumption, news went
round that the man had died. In a space of two
weeks about 71 persons have died from
consumption of the poisonous gin. Chinda, in his
report to the House, said death from the gin was
caused by methanol. According to him, findings
showed that some of the producers instead of
using ethanol to produce the gin went for
methanol, a chemical very harmful to humans.
The consumer who died in Ahoada East was not
alone in his doubt. Though government has
placed a ban on sale and consumption of the
product but enforcement has been a problem. So
you still see people cluster in spots, consuming
the product.
Ibifaa, a native of Buguma, who did not want his
photograph and full names in print for fear of
being arrested, said there was no way the ban
placed on the drink could stand. “Traditional
marriages in my area is never complete without
Kaikai. Again I am a fisherman; I live by the river
and do my business around it. I need hot drinks
to warm myself daily. And the one I can afford is
Kaikai. “
The member representing Degema constituency in
the House of Assembly, Farah Dagogo, also
advised the assembly against supporting outright
ban on sale of the local gin because of the
poisonous substance. According to him the local
gin has become a part of many, particularly those
in the riverine areas. Dagogo said they also use
it for libation and other traditional ceremonies.
The House of Assembly finally moved that people
should be well sensitized on dangers in
consuming the product. Speaker of the House,
Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani, who read out the resolution of
members, said the Ministry of Health should
upgrade its public laboratory to be able to test
chemicals that come into the state for production
of consumables.
The House also directed security agencies to
liaise with other government agencies to arrest
those using methanol to produce the drink. Ibani
said the ban on the drink by the Federal
Government was in place in the state. A vendor in
the Town area of Port Harcourt said since she
heard of the ban she only display her drinks for
sale from 7pm to avoid harassment from security
agencies. “You still see people coming here to
buy, “she said.
According to her, the gin is used to mix medicinal
herbs that her customers consume daily to
prevent different sicknesses. Pointing at different
bottles of the herbs soaked in Kaikai on her table,
she said some were for malaria, fighting problems
of weak erection, and so on. “ Some of my
customers said they don’t take drugs, so they rely
on the herbs which they take everyday to prevent
sickness. We call it root drinks,“ she explained.
Another dealer, Madam Iruene in Marine Base
area said she was shocked to hear of deaths
from consumption of the local gin. Madam Iruene
who still sells the drink said she had been in the
business for over a decade, stressing that
government should locate the source of the killer
Kaikai to stop it instead of imposing an outright
ban.
“Today it is Kaikai. Tomorrow we may hear of
poisonous Garri; so will the government also ban
the consumption of Garri because it killed a few.
Government should trace the source of the
problem of the killer drink and deal with it rather
than impose a ban,”she said.
Her opinion appears to be popular in Port
Harcourt as many believe that enforcement of the
ban on sale and consumption of Kaikai may be
difficult because the drink is part of the life and
culture of some people.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/killer-kaikai-why-we-kick-against-outright-ban-of-product-vendors-consumers/

National association of kaikai drinkers no fit gree make una ban their best friend

*Singing*
Ogogoro wetin i do u?
Ogogoro