2023 Bikers’ Carnival Thrills with Exciting Motorcycle Rides

Over 150 motorcycle riders stormed Calabar, the capital of Cross River State in southern Nigeria for the 2023 Bikers’ Carnival.
The Bikers’ Carnival, which was introduced by the former governor, Senator Liyel Imoke suffered a setback last year when a random vehicle broke the barricade, stole into the exotic cars parade resulting to the deaths of over ten people including a pregnant woman and her unborn child.

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However, seven motorcycle clubs converged on the Millennium Park, Calabar revving their engines and clad in their signature leather jackets for the highly anticipated, Bikers’ Carnival.

Excited funseekers and their families lined the route to watch the electrified and fearless riders showcase their adrenaline pumping stunts and thrills, which captivated the audience as they cheered and applauded the exhilarating display.

Adhering to the safety measures, the riders’ minimal stunts nevertheless intrigued spectators as the two-wheelers engines thundered along the streets of Calabar, a sight that attracted many young people.

One of the riders, a former president of Metallic Knights Motorcycle Club, Akin Ricketts, who was on the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority, said “what happened last year was a motor accident not motorcycle. As a club, our motto is ride safe, ride home; so we are riding in our protective garb and the pinions too.

The President of the Tinapa Motorcycle Club and Latin America Motorcycle Club,Calabar, Captain Fuller said, “we do a lot of charity work as bikers especially in schools and most of the communities we visit. We also have responsible members of society from northern Nigeria, the western zone, south-east and south-south here.”

Another rider said, “this carnival is an opportunity for us to meet each other. We travel to other states for meets like this. We were in Gombe State in northern Nigeria, we also had a meet on October First in Abuja and this has been our southern Nigeria meet. We do not want it to change or die.”

While another stated, “we have a good formation this year. Most of us love to ride as a hobby. Most of us are tourists, we travel to other states and neighbouring countries on our motorcycles and vice versa. In fact there is no month we do not receive riders from other countries in Calabar. However, we are safety conscious.”

Safety assured

In his remarks during the flag off ceremony, the deputy governor of Cross River State, Mr. Peter Odey stressed the need for the riders to observe the relevant safety measures as they showcase minimal stunts.

Odey said, “safety is our watch word. I want to assure Cross Riverians that we will conduct this activity safely and there would be no incidence at all. I also promise that next year, Governor Bassey Otu and I would be participating in the bikers’ carnival.”

Earlier, the chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah said that the bikers event was to identify with those with expendable income, noting “when these people come into the city there is exchange because they stay in hotels, speed money, and they cool off big time. We believe that they impact so much on the economy.”

Similarly, the executive secretary of the commission, Evangelist Austin Cobham said, “this year’s Bikers’ Carnival is just a pleasure ride with safety in focus. We have all the barricades in place and have announced that the people, spectators and funseekers should also avoid the tracks.”

The seven clubs that participated in this year’s Bikers’ Carnival include Metallic Knights, Free Wheelers, Tinapa, Maxk Riders, De Scorpion Motorcycle Club, Diamond Motorcycle Club and D-Invincible Motorbike Club.