There will be no Calabar carnival this year due to insecurity and the recent discovery of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.
This was after Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River suspended the 2021 edition of the event in a statement issued by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Linus Obogo.
The state government says the decision to suspend the annual festival was reached at a meeting with the governor, State Executive Council members and stakeholders of the carnival.
The statement in part read that “based on the emergence of the new variant called Omicron and the advice by health experts that it kills faster than other variants, the governor then put it before the stakeholders and it was unanimously agreed that the carnival be suspended.
“The carnival band leaders and other stakeholders agreed that for the purpose of public health and safety, the carnival be suspended.
“Also, there is an emerging security report which indicates that the event may be taken over by some hoodlums.
“To avoid all of these from happening, it was advised that the carnival be suspended so that people are not caught unaware.”
Obogo also mentioned that the State had received security reports that the event may be hijacked by hoodlums. Adding that Governor Ayade has said he will not “compromise the lives and safety of the citizens for the fleeting excitement of the carnival.”
