Calabar on Thursday stood still as the parade of the bands took centre stage in the ongoing cultural festival christened “Carnival Calabar”.

The parade, which saw the various bands in their colourful costumes dance through the 12 kilometres carnival route, also saw a large number of residents, tourists and fun seekers cheering them.

Declaring the parade open, Gov.

He added that the essence was to ensure that Cross River was really the choice tourism destination in Nigeria.

Some of the tourists from Lagos, said that the Calabar carnival was truly the biggest street party in Nigeria.

Mr Adebayo Adeyanju, a medical practitioner, who was attending the carnival for the second time with his wife and two kids, said it was really a spectacle to behold, adding that his kids were happy.

He, however, appealed to the government of Cross River to develop other tourism potentials of the state so that tourism would be an all-year-round activity not just in December – during the carnival.

“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,” he fumed.

Miss Clara Frederick, a Canadian, who was visiting Calabar for the first time, said she was having a good time as she had been treated well by the residents and would like to visit again in 2024.

Reports says that there is massive presence of security officials at different parts of the city, especially along the carnival route, with vehicular movements effectively diverted.

This is to forestall a reoccurrence of the 2022 incident where some people lost their lives and many were injured by a recklessly driven vehicle which ran into the carnival route.

The various bands are expected to interprete the theme of the carnival which is: “The season of Sweetness.”

They are expected to perform at different adjudication points where they will be judged by a panel and the winning band will go home with a cash prize.

Some of the competing bands in the event include the Master Blaster Band and Seagull Band.

Others are Diamond Band, Bayside Band, Passion Four Band, Calas Vegas Band among others. (NAN)

From Alfred Babs Ilorin

Kwara state Police Commissioner,  Victor Olaiya has ordered a discreet investigation into the death of one Adeniyi Ojo, the Managing Director of Water View Hotel, GRA, Ilorin, Kwara state capital, whose lifeless body was found in the hotel on Thursday.

The body of the Hotel Director was found lifeless on the bed of one of the rooms by the workers in the morning of Thursday, when they resumed for duty, according to the Police.

It was gathered that Police detectives dispatched to the scene did not find any physical violence in his body and was taken to the Kwara state General Hospital mortuary.

Police in a statement signed by SP Okasanmi Ajayi, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kwara Command said that a case of culpable homicide was reported by the management of the hotel to the Police on Thursday.

According to the statement, a team of detectives who were joined by the State Commissioner of Police were dispatched to the scene.

“A suspected culpable homicide case was reported at A Division Ilorin yesterday, September 28, 2023, at about 1000 hours by one Kehinde Olaseinde ‘m’ the supervisor of  Water View Hotel, GRA Ilorin. A team of detectives dispatched to the scene were later joined by the Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya, psc (+).

“The deceased, one Adeniyi Ojo ‘m’ the managing director of the hotel was found lying motionless on the bed in one of the rooms in the hotel.

“The examination of the body shows no sign of physical violence. The body was taken to a hospital where he was confirmed dead, and was deposited at the general hospital mortuary Surulere for an autopsy. 

“Meanwhile a discreet investigation of the case has been  ordered by the Commissioner of Police. Details of the investigation will be made public as soon as possible”, the statement said.

The Minister of Tourism, Ms Lola Ade-John, has urged relevant stakeholders to

develop, maintain and promote the nation’s tourism products, saying the products require national and global publicity.

Ade- John gave the advice on Wednesday in Abuja at the commemoration of the 2023 World Tourism Day with the theme ” Tourism and Green Investment”

The minister, who was represented by Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, the Director-General of National  Institute for Hospitality and Tourism ( NIHOURTOUR), said “we must develop, promote and  maintain tourism products” .

She added that taking tourism to the community level and showcasing the hidden germ of the villages in all regions advocating, teaching and preaching about it was key.

“The preaching, according to tourism, is the true essence of creating sustainable tourism in Nigeria.

“Achieving the vision of the green tourism requires a collaboration among local, state, Federal, international community,  private sector investment and development partners.

” It is imperative for us to come together to pull our resources,  share knowledge and innovate for a sustainable future.

” Our commitment to bring investment tourism means promoting  a sustainable practices at every level and we must ensure that the beauty we showcase today remains for future generations to enjoy,” she said.

According to the minister, protecting the nation’s natural  heritage and cultural diversity is not just a responsibility but an investment to the nation’s future.

She added that through responsible waste management, energy efficiency and eco friendly infrastructural development, the nation’s wildlife would be conserved.

The minister also called for the digitisation of tourism sector, adding that its digitisation would improve data collection,  analysis and enhance accessibility.

She added that it would also generate a competitive advantage, augment sustainable initiatives and also improve cost efficiency.

According to her, this will in turn improve a customer experience, support and collaboration of all stakeholder

” We will ensure that we continuously preach the preaching according to tourism so that we are all in alignment on how to make this journey fruitful.

” The creation of the tourism sector by Mr President,  Bola Ahmed Tinubu , the first in Nigeria history is evident that government has taken unprecedented series of actions to enhance the performance and actions of the sector.

” This is a call to action to invest in Nigeria tourism sector by ensuring that our natural and cultural treasures remain vibrant and accessible to all.

” The future of Nigeria tourism is rich and together we will unlock its full potential,” she said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory,  Mr Nyesome Wike said that it was imperative to cultivate and create awareness about tourism.

According to him, tourism has the potentials to create jobs, urging tourism stakeholders to come on board to develop the sector.

He also called for active private sector participation to harness full potentials in the sector.

Also, Mr Folorunsho Coker, the Director-General, Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) said that the United Nations World Tourism Organisation ( UNTWO). Secretary-General noted that tourism was a pillar of global economies

Coker, who was represented by the Director, Legal, NTDA, Mrs Funebi Otu-Umondak, said that the Secretary-General also added that tourism had enormous power and required huge investment.

According to him, there is need to make it easier for investors in tourism sector.

The Minister of State for Environment,  Dr Ishaq  Salako, represented by Mr Ibrahim Goni , the Conservator-General,  National Park Service said that tourism contributed 7.8 per cent of global Gross Domestic product in 2022.

According to him, tourism fosters unity, creates jobs among others. It is one of the key investments .

The minister,  therefore,  lauded President Bola Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Tourism for tourism practitioners and other relevant stakeholders to develop the sector.