FG To Work With Northern States To Revive Durbar Festival

The Federal Government is to work with the states in Northern Nigeria
to revive the Durbar Festival because of its huge potential to showcase
the pristine African culture and also create jobs.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this
in Abuja on Wednesday when he received the Governor of Bauchi State,
Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, on a courtesy visit to his office.

“Until recently, Durbar used to be a fixed cultural item in many parts
of Northern Nigeria and it’s about time we revived it. This is one
culture that you can hardly find replicated anywhere in the world.

“Durbar in Northern Nigeria is unique not only for its pageantry and
colour but for the potential it has to create jobs and also create
wealth for our people,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said Bauchi State is not only the citadel of Durbar
but a hub of tourism in Nigeria, and that very soon his ministry will
commence the tourist sites in the state as part of deliberate efforts
to promote tourism.

“One thing Bauchi is known for is tourism and culture. Many people
in Nigeria will remember the Yankari Games Reserve but what many
people will not know about the Yankari Games Reserve is that a few
years ago, it was actually given back to the government of Bauchi
State and since then they have taken tourism very seriously,” he said.

Earlier, Governor Abubakar hailed Alhaji Mohammed as an astute
information manager who has re-defined the art of public communication
in Nigeria.

“It is important and incumbent on me to pay this courtesy for the
single reason that information and communication are essential and
integral part of the success of any democratic government and Alhaji
Lai Mohammed has blazed the trail from the time he was the Publicity
Secretary of the All Progressives Congress to his present appointment
as the Minister of Information,” he said.

The Governor said his visit to the Minister was very successful as he
would be taking home some salient points that would help him to rejig
the machinery of information management in Bauchi State