News
Bikers thrill revellers with breathtaking stunts at Calabar Carnival
No fewer than 200 bikers on Sunday thrilled revellers with spectacular and breathtaking stunts during the Bikers’ Parade session of the 2024 Carnival Calabar, held in Calabar, Cross River.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bikers covered the 12km distance of the carnival route, exciting fun seekers.
Also, revellers in their numbers stood at strategic locations to watch different interesting acrobatic maneuvers by the bikers.
The entire process was a visual feast, with riders showcasing their skills and stunts like; ‘wheelies’, ’stoppies’, and ‘jumps’, on a variety of high-performance power bikes.
Adorned with colourful outfits and gleaming chrome, the bikers added a touch of glamour to the proceedings.
As the riders revved their engines and performed daring maneuvers, the crowd remained mesmerised by the display of speed, agility and balance.
It was a celebration of the passion and camaraderie that defines the biking community in the city of Calabar.
The event provided a platform for bikers to connect, share stories, and showcase their machines.
It also provided an opportunity for bikers to interact with the community, promoting a sense of unity and shared passion.
Nigeria’s fastest female biker, Aisha Vatsa, popularly known as “Flygirl”, who participated in the parade said it was extremely exciting for her as biking remained her hobby.
Vatsa, who is the National Secretary of Metallic Knights Motorcycle Club, said she participated in the parade to enlighten on the touristic and health benefits of biking.
She said the main aim of the club was to promote biking through the carnival platform as they desire that Calabar should be known globally as the bikers’ hub.
According to her, this can be achieved with the excellent road network, beautiful weather and the hospitable people of Calabar.
While Vasta appreciated Gov. Bassey Otu for giving bikers the needed visibility in the course of the carnival, she also harped on safe riding.
“We want to give our thanks to His Excellency, Gov. Otu, we are excited to keep this carnival going.
“And the main focus for us, the metallic knights, is we ride safe, we promote safe riding,” she said.
“I have been riding power-bikes for over 20 years, and I have been to Ghana, Benin Republic and Ivory Coast with my power-bike, and I aspire to visit South Africa and Europe soon.
Nformi Leonard, a member of the Metallic Knights Motorcycle Club, said he rode on power-bike from Abuja to Calabar to participate at the carnival.
“Biking, for us, is a form of releasing that adrenaline. When we are stressed, we go on bike and we feel very refreshed. We just want to have fun here,” he said. (NAN)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has interrogated former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, in connection with an alleged N700 billion fraud.
Reports indicate that his questioning followed a petition alleging his involvement in money laundering, fund diversion, and corruption.
Emmanuel’s detention occurred after he complied with the EFCC’s invitation to address allegations put forth by an anti-corruption organisation.
Investigations have revealed alarming findings, including the withdrawal of N31 billion in cash from a single account titled “Office of the Governor,” with further cash withdrawals taking place progressively from 2019 to 2023.
These transactions have raised serious concerns regarding the potential misappropriation of state funds.
The EFCC’s ongoing investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the alleged fraudulent activities and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
… Insists he was duly elected in Abuja
… We now have someone we can turn to – Bishop Naga
The Executive members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja have declared that Rev John Joseph Hayab Is their authentic leader.
The Northern CAN expressed their confidence in the newly elected Chairman, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, saying that they now have someone they can turn to as a leader.
During a press conference held in Maiduguri on Tuesday, the General Secretary of the association and Chairman of the North-East CAN, Bishop Mohammed Naga, announced that the election, which took place on 25th February 2025 in Abuja, was conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner, leading to the appointment of Rev. Hayab and other Executive Committee members.
Bishop Naga, who is also the General Overseer of the Biblical Christian Church (BCC), encouraged Christian faithful, particularly those from the Northern region, to continue praying for peace, unity, and progress in an area beset by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities.
He further urged all Christians to offer their prayers and support to the Muslim community during the Holy Month of Ramadan, in accordance with the teachings of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, who was the pioneer Patron of CAN in Northern Nigeria.
Bishop Naga stated, “I wish to emphasise our support for our substantive Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab. He was duly elected alongside other executive members, and all churches and Christian leaders in Northern Nigeria remain loyal to him.”
He continued, “Any group that believes it should hold power indefinitely is mistaken. The stakeholders from Northern Nigeria, including the former General Secretary of national CAN and representatives from various states, honour the legitimacy of this election. We are committed to our loyalty.”
Naga added, “I want to assure both our local and international communities, particularly those in Northern Nigeria, that we have a leader to whom we can turn for guidance on Christian matters. We are advocates for peace, and we acknowledge the historical context of Northern Nigeria. CAN itself was founded here, inspired by our esteemed leader, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, the first patron of CAN. This underscores our unity as brothers and sisters, committed to peaceful coexistence.”
He concluded, “We call upon all Nigerians to embrace one another, particularly our Muslim brothers and sisters who are observing the fast, to pray for peace in Nigeria and for the progress of our beloved country, especially in the North.”
Sixteen passengers were burnt to death in a lone accident involving a Mazda bus along Buhari Estate on the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State.
The spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun State, Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday.
She stated that the accident, which occurred around 1pm, involved the Mazda bus marked KJA 949 YJ, traveling from Ibadan via Abeokuta to Ota in Ogun State.
According to her, the accident was caused by a fire outbreak in the vehicle, adding that the vehicle was also having a filled gas cylinder in it, which led to an explosion.
She added that 21 people were involved in the accident and that while 16 died, others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“The Sector Commander, Akinwumi Fasakin, quickly moved to the crash scene with his team for rescue operation but he was not pleased with the occurrence.
“The driver should have objected to carrying a cylinder filled with gas.
“He stated that highly flammable items should be transported with care and by designated vehicles driven by trained drivers only,” Okpe stated.
Okpe added that the sector commander advised motorists and passengers to put safety first while using the roads.
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