Ebola: Demand for bitter kola increases in Kano

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The demand for bitter kola is now on the increase in Kano State following speculations that it cures the deadly Ebola virus. A bitter Kola dealer at Kano Ujule Market, Mohammed Sani Yahya, who spoke to our correspondent, stated that the speculation has made people from in and around Kano State to demand for more of it, adding that in the last one month, the demand for it has been low until recent discovery of Ebola in Lagos, Nigeria.

Yahya said that a bag of bitter Kola goes for N25, 000, but according to him, it is likely to go up if the demand for it increases.

He also said the market is not same in the last one month as he was able to sell about five bags in the last few days. It can be recalled that there were several claims that consumption of bitter kola keeps Ebola away, though it is yet to be authenticated by the relevant authority.

Some residents in the state told News verge that they are ready to use bitter kola to prevent the spread of the dreaded Ebola virus if finally approved as the major cure. Though, they pleaded for more enlightenment from the media and government on the disease and the efficacy of Bitter Kola in curing it. There have been 729 deaths from 1,329 confirmed cases of Ebola in this year’s epidemic making it the largest Ebola outbreak in history.