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Tourists lament cancellation of 2025 Eid-el-Fitr Durbar in Kano

Published

2 months ago

April 4, 2025

Several tourists have expressed disappointment over the abrupt cancellation of the 2025 Eid-el-Fitr Durbar, a popular traditional horse-riding festival, in Kano State.

More than 160 tourists had traveled to Kano to witness the annual Sallah Durbar, which is renowned for its grandeur and cultural significance. The cancellation, announced shortly before the event, left many visitors disheartened.

Speaking at a press briefing in Kano, Mr. Virgil Taylor, a tourist from the United States who spent a year planning his trip, described the experience as disheartening. He arrived in Nigeria on March 28, 2025, only to learn of the Durbar’s cancellation.

“Kano Durbar, as I understood from my research, was the biggest Durbar to visit. I only learned that the Durbar was canceled when I arrived in Kano. I was terribly disappointed because I had made significant financial commitments to the trip, arranging everything in advance,” Taylor said.

The first-time visitor to Nigeria noted that the Durbar represented a unique and historic opportunity for him, one he had long anticipated. Despite the setback, he appreciated the efforts of the Executive Secretary of the Kano State History and Culture Bureau, Mr. Ahmad Yusuf, and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, for providing alternative experiences for tourists.

Taylor, however, urged the Federal Government to minimize the issuance of security threats that could deter investors and tourists from visiting Nigeria. “Despite the financial cost, I consider my visit a blessing and would consider returning, hoping not to be disappointed again,” he added.

Similarly, Lekan Yusha’u, a UK-based Nigerian and polo agent, expressed frustration over the cancellation. He noted that his visit, along with the invitation extended to his friends, was largely inspired by UNESCO’s recognition of the Durbar as part of its heritage program.

“They have never ridden a horse in such a long procession. My goal, along with a couple of friends, was to ensure that within the next year, we put the Kano Durbar procession in the Guinness World Records. Kano Durbar has the largest gathering of horses in the world, with over 4,000 horses participating in a single procession,” Yusha’u said.

He revealed that he had spent over £6,000 on his flight alone, excluding other expenses, and had met over 160 foreign tourists who had come for the same event.

Yusha’u urged the Kano State Government to capitalize on the event’s global appeal, emphasizing that the Kano Durbar is unique to northern Nigeria.

“Both the state and federal government should not disappoint us again by canceling the Kano Durbar,” he said.

The annual Durbar festival in Kano is a cultural showcase that attracts visitors from around the world, featuring colorful horse parades, traditional dances, and displays of local heritage.

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Columns

How we are protecting Abia farmers from attack – NSCDC

Published

32 minutes ago

June 16, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Abia State Command has said that it has been playing important roles to ensure that there is peace in Abia State communities, especially in farms.

Abia State Commandant of NSCDC, Commandant Akinsola Aderemi said this at Police Officers Mess, Umuahia, during the 1st Abia NUJ Agric Show 2025, which was organized by the leadership of the NUJ in Abia to tackle hunger in the land.

The NSCDC Commandant said that Agro Rangers Unit of the NSCDC in Abia State, which is tasked with maintaining peace in farms and agricultural environments, has been doing everything to ensure that Abia farmers are safe in their farms.

Represented by the Officer in charge of Agro Rangers Unit, I. White, Commandant Aderemi noted that when farms are made safe, food production would increase.

He disclosed that the Agro Rangers Unit of NSCDC in the Abia Command was playing a role in solving a recent misunderstanding between farmers and herdsmen in the Obehie area of the State.

He commended the leadership of the Abia NUJ for the Agric Show concept and for providing the mechanism to sensitise Nigerians on the need to go into agriculture.

In their speeches, the Chairman of Abia State Council of Ndieze, Eze Linus Nto Mbah and the Chairman of the occasion, Dr Boniface Iheanyichukwu Ariekpere urged Abia youths to defeat hunger and unemployment by embracing agric business.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Abia State Council, Chidi Asonye raised the alarm that many Nigerians are groaning in hunger caused by rising cost of food in the market.

He explained that the 1st Abia NUJ Agric Show was a response to the National emergency of food insecurity.

He called for urgent and coordinated efforts to reverse the ugly trend.

Columns

Kaduna: Juji residents cry out over abandoned bridge

Published

3 days ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Residents of the Juji community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have raised fresh concerns over the abandonment of a bridge project linking the town to Ungwan Gimbiya, warning that the situation has worsened with the onset of the rainy season.

The bridge, which has remained incomplete for several years, is now severely affected by erosion and stagnant floodwaters, leaving it nearly impassable and posing serious risks to residents.

Speaking with reporters, locals described how heavy rainfall often renders the route unusable, disrupting daily life.

“Each time it rains, children can’t get to school, and many parents are unable to leave for work,” a resident said. “We are cut off completely. The waterlogged path is dangerous to cross.”

Community members say the abandoned infrastructure has left them stranded and exposed, especially schoolchildren and traders who rely on the route.

They are calling on the Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna State Roads Agency, KADRA, to urgently resume and complete the project.

“This is no longer a minor complaint, it’s affecting our survival,” one resident added.

Columns

Nigeria has regressed to electoral autocracy – LPPMC

Published

3 days ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Liberal Progressive & Patriotic Members Congress, LPPMC, has observed with dismay that Nigeria has regressed to electoral autocracy and needs constitutional disobedience to reset the system.

In a communiqué issued by the National Coordinator of LPPMC, Dr. Kingsley Okundaye, on behalf of 21 other leaders, the Congress stressed the need for an immediate biometric audit of INEC’s voter register, blockchain-based voting systems to prevent tampering, and live streaming of all results collation.

The meeting stated that when courts legitimize electoral heists, democracy becomes tyranny, and resolved to pursue a constitutional amendment to punish judicial officers who subvert electoral justice and impose a 90-day limit for election petitions.

The communiqué stated that 25 years of democracy have not addressed northern marginalization and called for constitutional recognition of power rotation between regions and religions.

On grassroots mobilization, LPPMC says it would launch “Democracy Literacy Campaigns” in all 774 LGAs, assuring that it would reserve 40% of leadership slots for women and youth (per gender policy debates).

LPPMC said, “The 2023 elections showed rigging is now institutionalized. We must act now or lose Nigeria completely.”

It alleged that Labour Party’s hijacking proves the need for new safeguards against political predators and called for the formation of a 37-state Coalition for Electoral Integrity by July 1.

It gave INEC an ultimatum to clean the voter register by August 30 and commence mass voter education by September 12.