To further ensure a successful and peaceful Calabar Festival, the State Carnival Commission team has embarked on series of visits to Security Agencies to strengthen existing ties amid a beehive of the 2023 Carnival Calabar and Festival activities.
The visits which began with the Nigerian Correctional Services on Monday, December 4, 2023, proceeded to the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC), Calabar, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Police State Headquarters, and the Department Of State Services, Cross River State Command.
Speaking, the Executive Secretary Carnival Commission, Evangelist Austine Cobham, explained the purpose of the visit and appreciated the Security Agencies for their co-operation, commitment and professionalism in the past Carnivals as well as the affairs of the State.
Cobham informed the Agencies that the State has returned to its 32 day annual festival program which entails a lot of traffic and sought their cooperation in ensuring that commuters, participants and tourists remain safe all through the festive period and beyond.
According to him, the visit was to reaffirm the long-standing relationship between the Commission and the Security Agencies while appealing for re-enforcement to forestall any security breach in the State.
Responding, Dr Kupan Amos, the Controller, Nigeria Correctional Services, assured the team that his men will, in partnership with other Security Agencies, re-strategize to combat any security challenge that rears its head, especially with the enabling environment made possible for them by the Governor, Senator Bassey Otu.
Mr Emmanuel Akinrinsola, Controller Nigeria Immigration Service, Cross River State Command, pledged continued support, adding that his team would always uphold diplomatic etiquette and promote tourism, as part of Immigration training.
Commissioner of Police Cross River State Command, Mr Augustine Grimah appealed to the Commission to always involve Security Agencies in their planning and also tutor their officials on security measures, precautions, rules and regulations.
For his part, the State Director of Security Services, Mr John Shokoya, guaranteed a stronger synergy to avoid security problems and admonished the team to follow strictly necessary security advice and recommendations arising from their own assessment of the State.
On the team with the Executive Secretary were Barrister Oyama Ndifon, Director of Administration, Mr Effiom Bassey Effiom, Commissioner Marketing, Miss Grace Ann Odu, Commissioner Media, Miss Shirley Effiom, Commissioner Band Liason, Mr James Bullem, Commissioner Planning Research and Statistics.
By Ebi Collins, The Beagle News
