New York – Thousands of Nigerians thronged the streets of Manhattan in New York City on Saturday to celebrate the 2011 National Independence Day parade.

Nigeria gained independence from Britain on Oct. 1, 1960.

During the parade, a popular Lagos-based musician, Pasuma Wonder, performed on stage at
the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on 47th Street between the city’s First and Second Avenues.

His performance was greeted by rapturous applause by thousands of Nigerians dressed in the Nigerian national green and white colours and waving the national flag.

Popular reggae artist, Majek Fashek, who is now based in the U.S, was also present at the show but he did not perform.

In 2010, the organisers had pulled the plug on Fashek after he used an obscene word on stage.

Top Nigerian officials, including the country’s Ambassador to the U.S, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, and Prof. Joy Ogwu, the country’s Envoy to the UN, attended the parade.

Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara was also present at the parade, which was organised by Nigerians in the Diaspora, under the aegis of Nigeria Independence Day Parade Committee (NIDC).

Mr Michael Adeniyi, one of the organisers, said this year’s event was without any incident and added that a record crowd of more than 20,000 attended the occasion.

No fewer than 10 beautifully-decorated floats, clusters of youths and cultural organisations marched through the parade routes.

The routes are from the 54th Street down to the Nigeria House on the 44th Street on Second Avenue in New York City.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) provided security around the venue of the grand finale of the parade at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on 47th Street.

NAN reports that the venue directly faces the UN headquarters in New York.

Speaking to NAN later, Pasuma Wonder said it was an honour for him to attend the parade for the first time.

“I love this show. This is my first time of attending, and I am happy people appreciate Nigerian artistes.

“I know Nigeria will be better and all we have to do is to keep on praying and all we are looking for will come to us,’’ he said on Nigeria’s 51st independence anniversary.

NAN reports that the parade was in its 20th edition.(NAN)