2019 Abuja Carnival to Gulp N82.109m
The 2019 edition of Abuja cultural carnival will gulp N82.109 million, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said.
The yearly carnival meant to showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage is coordinated by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
The minister said that Cultural Centres established by Nigeria in China and Brazil were good for marketing the image of the country to further make the outside world appreciate Nigeria and Nigerians better.
Mohammed stated these in Abuja while making presentation on 2019 budget proposals of his Ministry.
Apart from the presentation, the minister also defended the 2019 budget estimates before the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Fatimah Raji –Rasaki, had taken on the minister on the N82million proposed for the Abuja Cultural Carnival 2019 when the carnival did not hold last year despite N62 million appropriated for it.
The Minister responded that the N62million appropriated for the carnival in 2018 was not fully cash backed.
Economic Confidential recalls that Abuja carnival is no doubt the biggest carnival in Nigeria. It is an annual event that showcases the rich cultural values of the Nigerian nation and reflects the diversity of ethnic expressions in Nigeria. It is a city carnival that is supported by the Nigerian Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and usually organized by the Carnival Roadshow Company. The carnival usually comes up in the month of November and it’s one of the best cultural events in the country. Over 35 states and 5 countries participate in the show This may come as a surprise, but the Abuja Carnival is not an Abuja “thing” – it is celebrated by about 35 states in Nigeria with about 5 neighboring African countries coming down to participate in the largest carnival event in Nigeria.
The fact remains that over 2 million people attend the Abuja carnival, and over 300,000 participants entertain people to their heart’s content. There is an array of colours and costumes that can only be found in Nigeria and Africa, and that represent the ideals of the Nigerian people.
The Abuja carnival is a rich blend of cultural and ethnic events to show the wealthy heritage of the people of Nigeria. It features the durbar where riders decked in traditional costumes and bearing swords act out a war performance. There is also a boat regatta, traditional music and dance, a cultural parade, and indigenous circus show among others.
