APA-Abuja (Nigeria) Contingents from Egypt, Ghana and South Africa have joined those from the 27 of the 36 states in Nigeria in Abuja to start on Saturday, the four-day Abuja carnival organized to showcase the rich culture of the country as well as promote investment in tourism.

APA has observed that all the major streets in the city are wearing a new look as many tourists from Africa, Europe and America were already in the city to savor the splendor of the ceremonies.

Prof. Biaakare Zakare, Director-General, Abuja Carnival 2009, assured stakeholders that the carnival would be held successfully in spite of zero-budget allocation for the show.

Zakare gave the assurances, saying organizers could not afford to allow the show to fail for lack of fund as they were ``very experienced’’.

“We have promised to give Nigerians and the world a befitting carnival and to achieve this, we are determined to approach it with the best method and make it the best ever,” he said.

He said it was regrettable that at a time the world was watching and expecting Nigeria to deliver a befitting carnival, the government did not plan a budget for it.

“I will say that my committee has done well to bring the carnival to this extent and we are assuring Nigerians of a befitting carnival,” he said.