Forget the unrest, hikers revive the ‘land of peace’
Célia Lebur
The old car number plates still carry the inscription beloved of the people of Plateau State in central Nigeria: “Land of peace and tourism”.
Years of spiralling violence have rocked the region of outstanding natural beauty. But tired of the unrest, young hikers have now decided to revive the slogan.
Every weekend, Andrew Niagwan and his friends defy the insecurity to chart new trails and kick-start tourism in the breathtaking lush countryside around the state capital Jos.
“We now have over 60 hiking locations and we are still discovering some more,” Niagwan says as he hikes nearing the top of the Shere Hills, a mountain range that not so long ago attracted tourists from across Nigeria.
Holding a can of white spray paint, Niagwan draws arrows on stones to mark the fresh trail.
Up ahead, a guide hacks through the dense vegetation.
“For years, people used to avoid the area, but thanks to us the hiking fever is back,” Niagwan, a tall psychology graduate in his thirties, says proudly.
The nature enthusiast created the Jos Plateau Hikers Club in 2013, with his 82-year-old friend Yves Gattepaille, who has been walking the region for decades.
So popular are the excursions that there is a burst of new clubs to keep up with demand.
Now newcomers like “The Hike Team”, “Jos Hike It”, and “The Wayfarers of Jos” are also organising weekly walks in the hills.
“During the crisis with the curfew we have to stay indoors and the internet has been the best companion,” says 26-year-old hiker Metou Kwallo.
“We are tired of the violence. We can’t be living in fear.”
The fresher micro-climate in Plateau State is an exception in the often suffocating heat of Nigeria.
The other-worldly beauty of the dome-shaped outcrops of rock and established hotels have long made Plateau a favourite holiday resort for rich Nigerians and expatriates.
But in the early 2000s, the tourism market cooled off after bloody outbreaks of violence between Christian and Muslim communities, killing more than 10 000 people, according to Human Rights Watch.
The waves of violence have sunk the local economy.
Aware of the region’s potential, Plateau Governor Simon Lalong said he wanted to “resuscitate” tourism. “We are going to focus on tourism for not only Plateau State but also for Nigeria.” –