Chappal Waddi - The tallest mountain in Nigeria

Chappal Waddi (also known as the Mountain of Death) is located in Nigeria and, at 2,419 m (7,936 ft), is the country's highest point.

Chappal Waddi (also called Gangirwal) translates to 'Mountain of Death' in Fulfulde. Fulfulde is a language spoken by the Fulani people.

It is known as the mountain of death because of an insurmountable gully in the southern corner of the range. Despite the name, it’s very easy to climb.

It takes about two days to reach the peak of the mountain. So, it’s not just an impromptu trip; hikers have to be prepared and come along with appropriate camping gear, outfits, and food so they can set up camp while enjoying the great outdoors.

It is located in Taraba State, near the border with Cameroon, on the edge of the Gashaka Gumti Forest Reserve and the Gashaka-Gumti National Park on the Mambilla Plateau.

The Gashaka-Gumti National Park is Nigeria’s largest national park and covers 6,731 sq km, which is about 3 times the size of Greater London. The park was created by a federal decree in 1991.

Tourists to the park are able to relish grasslands, abundant forests, magnificent highland plateaus, tranquil lakes, rocky mountains, rich wildlife, and diverse ethnic cultures, all within just one safeguarded space.

This peak holds a special place in the hearts of the Mambilla people, intertwined with their ancient beliefs and stories passed down through generations.and herders use it to feed their livestock.

The mountain is kept by the conservation efforts of many organisations and groups like Gashaka Gumti National Park and the Nigeria Park Services, Africa Nature Investors (ANI), Amansale Community, Serti Community, Nguroje Community, and Tour Operators (TVP Adventures and Nature Connects).

Truly, Nigeria is a beautiful country that remains unexplored by its citizens and even tourists.

By Temi Iwalaiye, Pulse Nigeria

Petrol landing cost falls in Nigeria as local pump price increases

In a statement, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expressed concerns that the pump price of petrol in Nigeria continues to exceed market values, raising questions about the fairness of pricing for consumers.

This marks a significant 20.23% decrease from ₦1,219 per litre recorded in August 2024, according to data from the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria.

The decline is attributed to fluctuations in both the Naira-dollar exchange rate and the international price of crude oil.

As of the end of trading on Friday, the Naira stood at ₦1,678.87 to the dollar, with Brent crude priced at $73.63 per barrel.

This contrasts with the rates in August, when crude was priced at $80.72 per barrel, and the Naira exchange rate was ₦1,611 per dollar.

Despite the lower landing cost, petrol remains expensive at the pump in Nigeria. The retail price of petrol ranges from ₦1,060 to ₦1,200 per litre at various stations, including those operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

The price of petrol had already surged from ₦617 per litre in August 2024 to over ₦1,060 per litre by November 2024.

The Dangote Refinery has recently announced ex-depot prices of ₦960 and ₦990 per litre for petrol delivered by ships and trucks, respectively.

In a statement, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expressed concerns that the pump price of petrol in Nigeria continues to exceed market values, raising questions about the fairness of pricing for consumers.

By Segun Adeyemi, Pulse Nigeria

Video - Power shortages, rising fuel costs accelerate shift to solar in Nigeria

Many small businesses now rely on solar for their energy needs after public electricity costs surged. Solar companies are easing adoption by offering installment payment options, making it more accessible.

CGTN

Related story: Peter Obi Urges FG To Resolve Power Crisis Challenges

 

Nigeria ranks fifth globally in daily social media usage

Nigeria has been named among the world’s top social media engagements in 2024.

Figures from Cable.co.uk and We Are Social in 2024, shared on Sunday by World of Statistics on X, ranked Nigeria fifth for average daily use of social media in the world.

The data disclosed that Nigerians spend an average of 3 hrs and 23 minutes on social media daily.

While Kenya led the list with an average of 3 hrs and 43 minutes daily, South Africa followed with 3 hrs and 37 minutes.

Full list:

Kenya – 03:43

South Africa – 03:37

Brazil – 03:34

Philippines – 03:33

Nigeria – 03:23

Colombia – 03:22

Chile – 03:11

Indonesia – 03:11

Saudi Arabia – 03:10

Argentina – 03:08

Mexico – 03:04

Malaysia – 02:48

Ghana – 02:43

Egypt – 02:41

Thailand – 02:30

Bulgaria – 02:26

Vietnam – 02:23

Portugal – 02:23

Romania – 02:20

Italy – 02:17

By Racheal Ayodele, Daily Post

Nigeria rights body to present findings on abortion allegations against military

Nigeria's human rights commission will on Friday deliver its findings from an investigation into Reuters reports, which found the military ran a secret, systematic and illegal abortion programme and massacred children in its fight against Islamist insurgents in the northeast.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which is appointed by the government, established a special panel in February 2023 to investigate the findings published by Reuters and conducted hearings in the capital Abuja and northeastern Borno state.

The Nigerian military denied the findings in the news agency's reports.

The NHRC on Thursday sent invitations to the media saying the panel was ready to present its findings and recommendations to the public in Abuja.

In advance of the Friday session, Reuters was unable to independently establish what the report will conclude.

Obinna Jude Nwakonye, NHRC head of corporate affairs who signed the invitations, did not immediately respond to calls for further comment about the commission's findings.

In the past, some rights activists have accused the NHRC of failing to hold the government to account, citing the agency's inability to secure prosecution of senior Nigerian officials accused of rights abuses – a lack of accountability underscored in United Nations and U.S. State epartment reports.

However, the commission also has previously presented hard hitting reports against the government.
In October 2020, thousands of protesters successfully demanded the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) police unit, members of which the NHRC found had extorted, tortured and killed civilians.

That same month, the army and police opened fire on protesters in Lagos, killing at least 11 people, according to a state judicial panel that the NHRC helped set up.

The government rejected the panel's report, citing errors and insufficient evidence.

Reuters reported in December 2022, based on dozens of witness accounts and documentation, that the military abortion programme involved terminating at least 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls, many of whom had been kidnapped and raped by Islamist militants.

In another Reuters report, more than 40 soldiers and civilians told the news agency they witnessed the Nigerian military kill children or saw children's corpses after a military operation.

Two decades ago, an Islamist fundamentalist movement, Boko Haram, was born in Nigeria's northeast.
In 2009, the killing of its founder, Mohammed Yusuf, by Nigerian police spurred its transformation into an armed insurgency that the Nigerian military has been fighting.

Boko Haram gained global notoriety in 2014 for the abduction of 276 secondary school girls in the town of Chibok, a raid that prompted the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Some of the girls have never been returned.

Although weakened by the military and internal divisions that splintered the group in 2016, Boko Haram remains a threat as it launches deadly attacks against civilians and government targets.
Tens of thousands of women and children have been sucked into the conflict, with some recruited into the insurgency's ranks and others forced to become fighters and suicide bombers, according to human rights groups and academics. 

By Camillus Eboh, Reuters

Related story: Nigeria government denies Reuters report of mass ‘abortion programme’ of Boko Haram victims