CALABAR – The Cross River State Government has declared December 29, 2025, a work-free day to enable residents participate fully in the 2025 Carnival Calabar festivities.
The declaration followed earlier federal approval of December 25 and 26, 2025, and January 1, 2026, as public holidays for Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year celebrations.
According to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Information, the work-free day applies to workers in both public and private sectors across the state.
The statement explained that the approval would ease movement restrictions as major carnival routes and streets in Calabar metropolis close to vehicular traffic.
Truth Live News sighted the statement on social media, where the government urged residents and visitors to plan movements responsibly during the carnival period.
The ministry also announced that the Bikers Carnival would take place on Sunday, December 28, 2025, across all carnival routes, disrupting free flow of human and vehicular traffic.
Residents were advised to use alternative routes, while pedestrians were encouraged to observe safety precautions when using designated walkways.
The government wished residents a memorable Christmas celebration and a prosperous New Year, reaffirming commitment to safety, orderliness, and cultural celebration.
The declaration coincided with renewed urban renewal efforts in Akwa Ibom State, where Governor Umo Bassey Eno, reopened the remodelled Ibom Plaza in Uyo.
Governor Eno described the plaza rehabilitation as part of the ARISE Agenda’s tourism vision, stressing ethical governance through reclaiming public spaces for collective social use.
Speaking at the reopening ceremony, the Governor commended the Uyo Capital City Development Authority for meeting project timelines and delivering value to citizens.
“We needed to reclaim the plaza and make it a place where we can all gather like a city square,” Eno said, outlining plans for inclusive entertainment activities.
He said the administration was developing a master plan for the plaza, revealing future infrastructure including a possible flyover and additional befitting facilities.
“I want to thank the Chairman of UCCDA for working day and night to fix this place. The best is yet to come,” the Governor stated.
Eno stressed that public infrastructure must serve peace and safety, announcing regulated operating hours from 7 a.m. to midnight. “If we find anyone here after closing hours, the person will be arrested. We will not allow miscreants in this place,” he said.
The Governor thanked Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Baba Azare, for approving a security outpost at the plaza to protect lives and property. He added that professional maintenance, especially of restrooms, would continue under UCCDA supervision to sustain public confidence.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Ekerette Udo, sighted by Truth Live News on social media, the project reflects Governor Eno’s commitment to tourism-driven development.
Uyo Local Government Chairman, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, described the renovation as a creative intervention that restored the plaza’s lost glory. He said the project aligned with the urban renewal vision of former Governor Obong Victor Attah and reinforced the plaza’s symbolic tourism value.
Dr. Udo thanked Governor Eno for upgrading the facility to contemporary standards, noting that ethical urban governance required preservation of public heritage.
Similarly, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Anieti Udofia, described the reopening as a defining moment for Akwa Ibom State. Udofia said the administration had redefined governance through deliberate remodelling initiatives that strengthened cultural development and tourism competitiveness.
He noted that the plaza transformation repositioned the state as a viable tourism destination while reinforcing cultural identity.
In a project overview, UCCDA Chairman, Rt. Hon. Anietie Eka, traced the plaza’s decline to prolonged neglect and insecurity. Eka said the rehabilitation fulfilled a campaign promise and restored dignity to the space in line with government’s moral responsibility.
He listed new features including art galleries, a security outpost, solar lighting, an LED entertainment screen, and patrol vehicles for effective management.
Eka thanked Governor Eno for the opportunity to supervise the project, pledging accountability and sustained maintenance.
Both developments underscore a broader governance emphasis on tourism, public safety, and ethical use of civic spaces during festive periods. The coordinated measures aim to enhance cultural celebration, economic activity, and public order across Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.