Tourists Express Disappointment Over Cancellation of Kano Durbar
Some tourists have expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the 2025 Eid-el-Fitr Durbar (traditional horse riding) in Kano State.
A cross-section of tourists, out of over 160 who trouped into Kano to witness the Sallah Durbar, described the cancellation as disappointing.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kano, a tourist from the United States of America (USA), Mr. Virgil Taylor, said it took him a year to plan for the trip, only to be disappointed after arriving in Nigeria on March 28, 2025.
“Kano Durbar, as i understood from my research, was the biggest Durbar to visit. I only learned that the Durbar was canceled when i arrived in Kano. I was terribly disappointed because I had made significant financial commitments to the trip, arranging everything in advance.
“The Durbar presented a unique and historic opportunity for me. I was disappointed that I didn’t witness the grand horse parade.”
Taylor, who is a first-time visitor to Nigeria, appreciated the efforts of the Executive Secretary of the Kano State History and Culture Bureau, Mr. Ahmad Yusuf, and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, for helping tourists find alternative experiences instead of being held for their entire trip at their hotel apartments.
Despite the disappointment of missing the horse parade, he described his visit as a blessing, regardless of the financial cost, adding that he would consider returning, hoping not to be disappointed again.
However, he urged the Federal Government to minimize the issuance of security threats that could discourage investors from coming to the country.
Similarly, a UK-based Nigerian and polo agent, Lekan Yusha’u, said his visit and the invitation extended to his friends were motivated by UNESCO’s recognition of the event in its heritage program.
Expressing his disappointment over the Durbar’s cancellation, Yusha’u said he immediately notified his polo teams and friends who had already shipped their horses not to come.
“They have never ridden a horse in such a long procession. My goal, along with a couple of friends, was to ensure that within the next year, we put the Kano Durbar procession in the Guinness World Records.
“Kano Durbar has the largest gathering of horses in the world, with over 4,000 horses participating in a single procession,” he said.
He noted that he had spent over £6,000 on his flight, excluding other expenses, and had met over 160 foreign tourists who had come for the same event.
Yusha’u urged the state government to take advantage of the event to showcase it to the world, emphasizing that Kano Durbar is the only one of its kind that stands out in northern Nigeria.
“Both the state and federal government should not disappoint us again by canceling the Kano Durbar,” he said.
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