Calabar, Cross River State capital, came alive on Thursday as the cultural festival otherwise called Calabar Carnival was being held.
The bands that were on hand at the Calabar Carnival appeared in colourful attires. They danced through the streets amid a large turn out of residents.
They were flanked by tourists and other fun seekers who were at the scene cheering them.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State said the carnival was being repackaged to meet international standard.
He stated that the essence of the Calabar Carnival was to ensure that Cross River was first choice tourism destination in the country.
A tourist at the Calabar Carnival said it was the biggest street party in Nigeria.
A medical practitioner named Adebayo Adeyanju, who was attending the carnival for the second time with his family, described it as a spectacle that is beautiful to behold.
He urged the government of Cross River State to develop other tourism sites in the state as an all-year-round activity.
He said that “We have Obudu Cattle Ranch that is no longer functional, we have the Agbokim Waterfall and even Tinappa. All these great tourist sites were pushed down due to poor management.”
A tourist from Canada, Clara Frederick, visiting Calabar for the first time, said she had good time and would like to visit again in 2024.
There was high presence of security personnel in the city to ensure safely and security, and to also ease vehicular movements.
Recall that in 2022 some people lost their lives with many others injured in an accident that occurred due to reckless driving.
In line with the theme of the carnival, ‘The season of Sweetness,’ the various bands performee to the admiration of audience at different strategic under the watch of a panel of judges.
Among the bands that performed at the event were the Master Blaster Band and the bSeagull Band. Others are the Diamond Band, Bayside Band, Passion Four Band and Calas Vegas Band among others.
