The 2017 edition of Calabar Carnival in Cross River State is set to be an amazing one billed to thrill party goers in few weeks as U.S rap mogul, Rick Ross, has been announced as the headliner.

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American Rapper, William Roberts II, a.k.a Rick Ross, Tuface, and Tekno will perform at the Calabar Carnival scheduled for December 26.

Ross featured in Psquare (now splitted) musical video titled: `Beautiful Onyinye.’

Ikobi Ikobi, a Commissioner in the Cross River Carnival Commission in charge of media, disclosed this on Wednesday in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

Mr. Ikobi said that the carnival, which has the theme, “Migration’’, had been designed to thrill fun seekers who would visit Calabar with life musical entertainment.

“For now, we have sealed a deal with Rick Ross; He is expected to be in Calabar on December 26 to perform in the carnival. We are still talking with other international artistes that will also perform.

“We have contacted some artistes in Nigeria; the likes of Innocent Idibia popularly known as Tuface, Tekno, Inyanya and others.

“As we all know, the first dry run of the carnival was held on October 22 and it was a success. I want to assure tourists coming into the city of Calabar that the 2017 carnival will be fantastic,’’ he said.

In a separate interview, the state Commissioner for Information, Rosemary Archibong, told NAN that the Calabar carnival was an annual robust event filled with diverse activities.

Mrs. Archibong said that the theme of the carnival was chosen by Gov. Ben Ayade, in recognition of the plight of Africans that are forced to migrate out of Africa in search of greener pasture, food and help.

“Most times, we see our people trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea and in the process, many lives are lost and this informed the choice of the theme.

“It is hoped that this carnival will bring back the thought of our leaders to good leadership in Africa.

“We will have different interpretations of the theme from five competing bands and it is going to be extremely entertaining, thought-provoking and mentally engaging.

“We are also going to have the cultural carnival, and I can assure tourists that the smart city of Calabar is set for the carnival,’’ she said.

The commissioner said that smart city wireless internet connection (wifi) had been added to the carnival with a view to connecting tourists to free internet use.

“It is going to be the celebration of the biggest street party in Africa.

“When tourists come in for the show, we don’t want them to start looking for where to buy data; all we want them to do is just to get their Wifi on and get connected to the world.

“This 2017 celebration is going to be a time of absolute ecstasy because we will also have the international carnival and more countries have registered to be in Calabar already.’’

Mrs. Archibong assured tourists coming in for the annual event of adequate security, saying that the state government was working in collaboration with security agencies in the state to ensure a peaceful celebration.

(NAN)