THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, has advocated the inclusion of a fishing festival in subsequent Abuja carnivals.
He, therefore, pledged that the FCT administration would collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Information to ensure that the 2019 edition is the best ever.
According to him: “The FCT as you know, is home to very large water bodies where, historically, in one of the areas, a fishing festival is held. So, if we are able to plan for 2020 or maybe even 2021, to incorporate a fishing festival, I think that will help.”
Bello, who stated this when the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, led a team on a visit to the FCTA, also commended his Information counterpart for the revival of the Abuja Carnival.
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The minister described the new strategy to take the carnival to all parts of the FCT and not limit it to the Federal Capital City (FCC) as a welcome development that would not only boost social and economic activities in these areas, but also showcase the unity of the country.
“We are excited because anywhere an event holds, it will automatically create social and economic activities that will make the people active and enable the movement of resources and upgrading of facilities. I think this will be the ultimate benefit apart from, of course, being a carnival meant to showcase and cement our unity as a country,” he stated.
While directing that the FCTA component of the collaboration would be supervised by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Mallam Bello also told his guests to avail the FCTA of the private partners for the Abuja Carnival project so that an arrangement could be worked out that would be mutually beneficial to all parties involved.
Earlier, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had solicited the support of the FCT administration for the successful hosting of the 2019 Abuja Carnival.
He expressed the hope that with FCTA’s support, the 2019 Abuja Carnival, with the theme: “Culture for Peace” will involve all the Area Councils of the FCT.
The minister, who listed key areas for support, explained that the purpose for opening up the carnival to Area Councils as against what obtained previously, was to let as many people as possible feel the impact of the carnival and participate in it.