Lagos, Nigeria – The Chairman of Carnival Calabar, Gabe Onah, has called for stronger private sector participation to sustain the popular street festival, which turns 20 this year.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 21st Akwaaba African Travel Market on Tuesday in Lagos, Onah stressed that while government has played a pivotal role in the continuity of the carnival, its long-term survival depends on private investment and broader community buy-in.
“Carnival Calabar must breathe beyond the stranglehold of government. For sustainability, the private sector has to take more than a passing interest,” he said.
Onah credited successive governors Donald Duke, Liyel Imoke, Ben Ayade, and current governor Bassey Otu for keeping the festival alive, but added that the welcoming spirit of Calabar’s people, combined with the city’s natural assets, remain central to its uniqueness.
Highlighting trends in tourism, the chairman urged stakeholders to embrace artificial intelligence in promotion and to respond to shifting preferences, including the rising influence of families in travel choices. He noted that the Children’s Carnival has been upgraded into a Junior Carnival to reflect this shift, while demand for souvenirs and cultural takeaways is also growing.
Carnival Calabar has evolved into a major cultural and economic driver. According to the Cross River Tourism Bureau, the 2024 edition drew more than 300,000 tourists between November and December, alongside 450,000 onsite spectators for signature events. Global viewership surpassed 1.3 billion across DSTV and online platforms.
The festival also delivered an estimated N13 billion in economic impact, with hotel bookings worth N2.79 billion, food sales at N900 million, and transport costs nearing N8.9 billion. Nightlife, fashion, and ancillary activities added further revenue streams.
Onah described Akwaaba as a “melting point for the travel and trade industry” and reiterated that collaboration, not competition, remains the key to unlocking Africa’s tourism potential.
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