
The Leader of the Seagull Band, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ivara Esu; Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw; Miss Africa 2016, Ncurite Mendes and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu Gekpe at the flag-off of the final dry run of the Calabar Carnival in Calabar
He described the Calabar Carnival as the biggest street party in Africa, saying it has many unique selling points, being the longest carnival route in the world covering a 12-kilometre route.