2024 Carnival Calabar: Cross River Governor Assures of Spectacular Outing
By Uket Oka, Calabar
The Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has assured fun seekers, carnival enthusiasts and the public of a grand and vibrant 2024 Carnival Calabar festival.
Governor Otu gave the assurance as the final preparations for the highly anticipated annual carnival celebration reached a crescendo.
Flagging off the third and final Carnival Calabar Dry Run on Sunday at the popular Calabar Cenotaph, Calabar, the State capital, the State Governor, expressed confidence in delivering an unforgettable experience, this year.
He highlighted the lineup of colorful parades, musical performances, cultural displays, and other festivities that have cemented the carnival’s reputation as Africa’s largest street party.
Governor Otu, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Sylvester Agabi, urged residents and visitors to participate fully.
He further emphasised the event’s role in boosting tourism and showcasing the state’s rich heritage, assuring that, “Security measures and logistics have been meticulously planned to ensure a seamless celebration.”
In his address, the Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, said that in line with this year’s theme, “Our Shared Prosperity,” the 2024 Carnival Calabar and Festival has been carefully planned to give visitors, viewers, and the general public an unforgettable experience.
Mr. Onah explained that, “considering the cumbersome task of traversing the 12-kilometer carnival route by the various bands to provide the carnival with world-class entertainment, safety measures have been put in place to address any accidents or eventualities and, more importantly, to keep pace with international best practices.”
Speaking on the safety of participating bands, the representative of International Energy Insurance, Esheru Osime, assured the over 15,000 revelers who would be entertaining the world along the 12-kilometer route in Africa’s biggest street party that adequate compensation measures have been put in place to cater for participants in case of any accident, eventualities or even death.
The Executive Director of Yanga Games, Clement Nyambialso, stated that during the carnival, three lucky people would be going home with a whopping N10 million through a raffle draw.
Nyambialso enjoined those interested in the raffle game to get their tickets via www.calabargames.com or at the Christmas Village in Calabar Municipality Council premises.
The Carnival Calabar and Festival activities began on December 1, 2024, with the symbolic lighting of the towering Christmas tree at the Calabar Cenotaph by the Governor, followed by the walk against HIV/AIDS and the official opening of the Christmas Village, at the Calabar Municipal Council Headquarters ground.
Tourists and fun seekers from across Nigeria and around the world are expected to flock to Calabar, to savour in the fiesta.
