Despite the known harms of ogogoro and the Federal Government’s ban on its public sales and consumption, the locally made alcoholic drink is still flourishing as a favourite in native Delta communities where it has deep cultural significance in the lives of the people.

A senior pastor of Warri-based Flock of Christ Mission Church, Malcolm Oteri, on Friday expressed dismay on the persistent potentially self-destructive habit of consuming the deadly ethanol-filled drink by locals.

He narrated a traditional event which he attended and how ogogoro played a central part of the ceremony.

Hear Pastor Oteri, who poured out his heart in a Facebook post: “In spite of all the deaths caused by ogogoro, the warnings and the ban, some people don’t give a damn. Was at a traditional marriage somewhere today and you need to see how they were gulping ogogoro like the latest brand of water. In fact, the ceremony was held up for sometime because of the delay in arrival of the man who went for the local gin. As soon as he arrived, you could hear sighs of ‘eh hen orire’ (‘yes, he has come’). Only then did the elders pray. No one raised any objection as the water like liquor was served round. In fact, I was served. But my countenance told the young man serving I must be a stranger. Anyway, the ceremony went on. But I pondered, can anyone stop ogogoro, especially among my people? I wish I could, knowing all the pains, sorrows and heartbreaks ogogoro has caused many families. But they will tell you ‘all die na die’. Well, maybe one day my prayers will be answered. And ogogoro will be no more.”

As if to underscore the stubbornness of some native practices, no matter how harmful, a commenter replied to the post by saying: “Tradition is tradition, bro.”

The Federal Government on earlier in the year banned the consumption of the local gin in all parts of the country after deaths in Rivers and Ondo states due to food poisoning allegedly

caused by the consumption of drink.

Ogogoro is a West African alcoholic drink usually brewed locally and popular in Nigeria, where it is made from the juice of raffia palm trees and sold cheaply.

Alcohol content can range from 30 to 60 percent.

•Photo shows Malcolm Oteri.