By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, on Sunday flagged off the third and final dry run of the 2022 edition of the annual Carnival Calabar, with a promise to stage the best carnival of all time.
This year’s carnival is themed: ‘Agro-Industrialization.’
Addressing a crowd of Christmas makers at the Millennium Park, Calabar, the venue of the flag off, the governor also announced the subsidisation of the air fare into Calabar by Cally Air, the state-owned airline, to encourage fun seekers from all over Nigeria to grace the fiesta.
Inviting Nigerians to the annual colourful event, Ayade said, “Come and spend your Christmas in Calabar. I’m subsidising Cally Air fare this Christmas season to enable Nigerians pour into Calabar for the Carnival.
“Cross River is demonstrating to the world that you don’t need to have so much to do much, but you can do much if you care enough. Cross River State has aircraft which will fly people in and out of Calabar at a subsidized rate.
“Please do join Cally Air and come to Calabar. Support Cally Air and fly Cally Air.”
The 2022 Carnival Calabar, the governor said, will be the first after the COVID-19 era, promising that “we will give you the carnival you can ever think of.”
The seven competing bands in this year’s Carnival Calabar are: Seagull, Passion 4, Masta Blasta, Bayside, Freedom, Diamond and Calas Vegas.
