BY OLAYINKA AJAYI
Observing from a distance, one can not quantify the large number of young men and women alike converging in motor parks with the aim of traveling very early in the morning and most times late at night. Saturday Vanguard did a close up on Maza-Maza motor park in Lagos recently.

It may however interest you to know that what attracts some of these men to this park most often is neither the intention of traveling outside Lagos state as people may think, but the  idea of taking herbs soaked in dry gin which they believe is more effective in curing illnesses and also to brighten their day for a better performance at work and at night to refresh themselves.

‘Paraga’ local beverage sellers

These herbs blended in local gin popularly known as Paraga at the park have several roots which are used in curing many illness, while some also have branded names like Ogidiga, Alomo and others  which are locally mixed by the sellers like Jedi, Monkey tail, Opaeyin among others. While some of the these spots  however attract all kinds of people with the same intention of coming to drink, men with white collar jobs most times buy their stuffs and leave the scene not wanting to be noticed with miscreants as bus drivers and conductors as well as social misfits (touts) are  often seen hanging around,  discussing at length sports and politics.

When Saturday Vanguard sought the view of a seller, Iya Alagbo Jedi,as she is fondly called by her customers, she  narrated  how her customers come from far and near to get the feel of her herbal drink for all kinds of illnesses like pile, fever, backache among others.

She is however of the opinion that 80% of Africans prefer the usage of herbs for cure to modern day medicine. To affirm this fact, people rushed to the reporter with herbs that are mixed with local gin or water.

“Initially, people were preparing the mixture themselves, but out of busy schedule, they have no option than to patronize us very early in the morning and late at night.Although we have been accused by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC of lacking the appropriate measurement in selling our drinks but if our herbs mixed with water and spirit are not effective, why are people still patronizing us? In addition, many people that patronize us do so based on the fact that, what we sell is cheap and its medicinal value cannot be compared to the intake of beer” she stated.

Saturday Vanguard also gathered that most of the people patronizing these hawkers are majorly artisans and commercial vehicle operators. According to investigation,they believe herbs prepared with local gin are always effective.

In an interaction, some of the patrons of this local gin,  claimed herbs prepared local gin helps incurring fever, back-ache andchronic pile among others.

Moshood Adewale, a commercial bus driver said that he takes local gin mixed in hot drinks because his work requires enough energy;“I can’t do without taking the one that is meant for back- pain before embacking on any journey or that day would be miserable for me.”

Okechukwu Eze, a commercial bus driver is also of the opinion that it is good for its preventive qualities. “I drink it for preventive measures because I find it to be very effective and I have observed that it boosts my immune system for my sex life as well,” he said.

Also commenting on the issue,  Salaudeen  Abubakar  an official National Union of Road and Transports Workers, NURTW said  that life in motor parks is incomplete without these people selling herbs mixed with water or spirits; “ How can anyone confront these reckless drivers if you don’t do what they do? Even Military  officers go to these parks most time to get the feel.”