FG to Spend N150m For Abuja Carnival

Abuja - The Federal Government has earmarked N150 million to organise the Abuja Carnival in 2013, Mr Edem Duke, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, stated.

He appeared before the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism to defend the ministry's 2013 budget estimates.

Duke told the committee that N50 million was appropriated for this year's Abuja Carnival, but that only N42 million was released.

He explained that a better part of the money was spent on settling bills accumulated from the 2011 carnival.

The minister said that the 2012 Abuja Carnival was organised using goodwill and not necessarily cash.

Duke told the committee that the ministry had proposed N22 billion for the 2013 fiscal year, out of which N150 had been earmarked for the Abuja Carnival 2013.
The minister noted that if properly funded, the sector had the potential to employ a lot of Nigerians.