No fewer than one million visitors are expected in Calabar for the final lap of this year’s edition of the Calabar carnival.

This was disclosed by the Cross River Commissioner for Information, Mr Erasmus Ekpang.

Ekpang further said that over 15 million people across the world would watch the main event of the carnival live on DSTV on Thursday.

Ekpang, who described the 20th edition of the carnival as a huge success, said the state is already overcrowded as at Tuesday.

“We are truly excited with what we have seen thus far and we know that it will only get better.

“As I speak with you, hotels in Calabar are fully booked such that visitors had to be sleeping in propels houses.

“We had three visitors from Mali that are presently staying with a friend of mine because there is no hotel space. Only those visitors that booked their hotels in advance are smiling now,” he stated.

On the carnival sponsorship, the Commissioner said that some banks and DSTV are working in partnership with the state government.

It was reported that the state government introduced some new dimension into this year’s edition of the carnival which started in 2004.

According to him, the carnival was held in the Northern and Central senatorial districts of the state to give residents in the areas a sense of belonging.

“Ogoja in the North and Ikom in Central tool their turn for the carnival last week and the government also brought back the children aspect of the carnival which is taking place this Wednesday (Today).”

According to reports, Calabar is wearing new look for the carnival with major roads rehabilitated for the carnival.

Major roads and streets in the city have been lighten up with street lights.

No fewer than 15 states and two Africa countries tool part in Tuesday’s cultural aspect of the 31-days carnival which kicked off on December 1.