by S’ola Filani
In combating the deadly Ebola disease, residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have resorted to eating of bitter kola (believed to be the cure for the Ebola virus).
Although Kola has not been scientifically certified to be the cure for the deadly virus, new reports claim the African fruit has become a scarce commodity in Abuja.
Prior to the reported cases of the Ebola virus, the few buyers of the bitter kola bought a piece for N10 and three for N20, but due to high demand, one now goes for between N20 and N30; while in many parts of Abuja metropolis, bitter kola has become a scarce commodity.
“Yes it is true,” a student resident in Abuja, Ope Ogunlaja told YNaija.com. “When we heard the virus could be cured by Ebola, we raced to the market last weekend to buy as many as we could get only to find out that the price had tripled. We bought it still because we didn’t want to take chances. That’s our major snack in the house now”
Another resident, Emmanuella Horsfall narrated her experience: “I hate Kola but I have been forced to take it now, I bought six kolas for N200 on Monday evening. Everyone was buying it and I didn’t want to be left behind. I hope it truly cures that stuff (Ebola virus)”
Although many are unsure of how the African fruit works, several other residents including a mother of three, who spoke to Ynaija disclosed that they would rather eat the Kola than become victims of the Ebola virus.
Some merchants of the Kola in Wuse market also confirmed the price inflation saying the products are not even available even with the high demands.
The craze for ‘Kola’ started when the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu, in his widely published research, claimed that bitter kola held the key to the cure of Ebola virus.
