As part of its prepara
tions for the 2013 edition of the Rivers State Cultural Carnival, CARNIRIV, the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency, says it has beefed up security to ensure a hitch-free fiesta in the state.
Executive Director of the Agency Mr Sam Dede disclosed this while speaking to newsmen at the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, during the route appraisal exercise conducted by the agency in preparation for the fiesta.
Dede said, the agency was partnering with security agencies to ensure that adequate security was provided during the exercise.
He said the route appraisal exercise was to ensure that accessibility to the venue of the fiesta was easy for the  participants expected at the event.
He assured that the 2013 edition of CARNIRIV would record tremendous successes and advancement compared to previous editions of the fiesta.
He urged the participants at the event to be peaceful in their conduct and cautioned against the use of fire works during the event.
In his remarks, a consultant to the agency, Mr Austine Gbaragba assured a hitch-free celebration, saying that modalities had been put in place to make the 2013 edition of CARNIRIV a huge success.
Gbaraba said, more participants were expected to partake in the 2013 edition of CARNIRIV based on the awareness created and called for collective efforts from the people of the state to ensure a smooth delivery of the fiesta.
In his view, the Assistant Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Rivers State Command, Mr Frank Okueze, said a team of security personnel had come together to ensure that traffic and security challenges were checked.
He said the FRSC was poised to work with related agencies to ensure easy movement of parade vans and to ensure free flow of traffic during the exercise.