As part of this year’s Christmas celebrations, the Imo State government has scheduled its Carol Service for tomorrow, December 20, 2023.

The Christmas service, which is being organised in partnership with the state’s chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), will be held by noon at the Ndubuisi Kanu Square, formerly known as Heroes Square.

According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, Governor Hope Uzodimma will lead state government officials and prominent Imo sons and daughters to the event.

Similarly, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev Lucius Ugorji will lead his brother bishops and priests to the ceremony where he will say the opening prayer.

Meanwhile, Imo State government has said that it has put adequate security measures in place to ensure safety of citizens, residents and returnee Christmas holidaymakers.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Jerry Egemba, who disclosed this, yesterday, while hosting members of the Imo State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, led by the member representing Onuimo Constituency, James Esile, said the state government is working with management of all hotels and tourist centres in the state and all the security agencies to achieve the target.

He said: “We have put measures in place to ensure that there is relative peace and security this Christmas season.”

Egemba, who is a lawyer, said the state government has guaranteed that there would be a relatively peaceful festive season, urging those wishing to celebrate in Imo to return.

The Commissioner urged members of the House Committee on Tourism to create ideas and cascade in law to restore the state with booming tourist industry status, citing countries like Israel, Kenya, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (U.S.), United Arab Emirate among others, which have achieved such status with tourism as major source of revenue.