Nigerian Carnival update

Stallholders, performers and thousands of carnival-goers were disappointed this weekend by the last-minute cancellation of the 2010 Nigerian Carnival UK in Finsbury Park.

Haringey Council have clearly stated in their press release that the licence was withdrawn and the carnival cancelled owing to the organisers' failure to meet licensing conditions.

Haringey's Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods Cllr Nilgun Canver said,“We have been left with no alternative but to withdraw the licence for this event. Public safety is an absolute priority and organisers

had failed to meet conditions set out in the licence so that

arrangements were in place to ensure people were safe."

However, the carnival homepage states only that the event has been "postponed". The full text of the notice reads, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Nigerian Carnival 2010 billed to hold Sat 7th and Sun 8th at Finsbury Park has been postponed until further notice." 

Event organisers are said to be seeking a new location for the carnival. Information given on the website this weekend reads: "It is in the best

interest of all concerned that we move the event forward just so we

accommodate all the stratum of the programme to the best of our ability

and to the delight of the generality of Nigerians and friends of

Nigeria at large."

The Nigerian Carnival event in 2008 was cancelled due to complaints by local residents in Burgess Park, Camberwell, and the 2009 event did not proceed due to lack of funding.