Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has flagged off the third and final dry run of the 2022 edition of the yearly Carnival Calabar, with a pledge to stage the best carnival ever.

Speaking at the Millennium Park, Calabar, shortly before flagging off the carnival with theme: “Agro-Industrialisation,” the governor promised to  host the best carnival of all time.

To boost the carnival, he said he had subsidised air fare into Calabar by Cally Air, the state-owned airline to encourage fun seekers from all over Nigeria to attend the celebration.

He added,  “Come and spend your Christmas in Calabar. I’m subsidising Cally Air fare this Christmas season to enable Nigerians pour into Calabar for the carnival.

“In so doing, Cross River State is demonstrating to the world that you don’t need to have so much to do so much but you can do much if you care enough. Cross River has aircraft, which will fly people in and out of Calabar at a subsidised rate.

“Please do join Cally Air and come to Calabar.”

The 2022 Carnival Calabar, the governor said, would be the first after the COVID-19 era and promised to give it the best anyone could think of.

The seven competing bands in this year are: Seagull, Passion 4, Masta Blasta, Bayside, Freedom, Diamond and Calas Vegas.