One of the salient characteristics that distinguishes Lagos from the other mega cities of the world is that it is a place where vehicles are sold at every nooks and crannies.

Bauchi State, it would appear, is still battling to come to terms with the lives lost and property destroyed during recent flood incidents in the state. Many residents of the state, especially those living in the rural areas were forced to abandon their homes to seek refuge elsewhere, even in unpleasant places. Precisely on August 15, 2013, there was a heavy downpour that lasted for several hours in the state. The resultant flood affected several households as many buildings collapsed and properties were destroyed.

Most Lagos drivers seem to have reached their wits-end concerning their driver’s licences. It’s like there is conspiracy among the Police, officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC and Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs, to declare every driver’s licence they examine as fake.

SOME call it Isemo, while others call it Igbele but whatever it is called, the meaning is the same: An age-old Yoruba traditional rite that imposes a restriction of movement on women at a certain period or occasion. Depending on some factors, Isemo is an annual tradition in some Yoruba-based communities observed to appease the gods and to ward off impending danger.

RESIDENTS of communities in Ishielu Local government area of Ebonyi State are presently living in fear of an imminent disaster. Their fear derives from the belief that the Eguho-Ebonyi bridge in the area would soon collapse if urgent steps are not taken to either rehabilitate or reconstruct it.

AHEAD of next year’s centenary celebration, Will and Wiser Nigeria, a youth re-orientation and development outfit, has concluded plans to use the country’s national flag as a symbol to strengthen the unity of the country.

Travelling all the way from Lukosi area of Ogun State to Ikorodu in Lagos on a motorcycle is certainly remarkable. But more remarkable is that when the three travellers stopped beside a new generation bank last Friday, this did not immediately arouse any curiosity or suspicion, especially as their mission was unknown to those who saw them. That was until an alarm was suddenly raised, prompting some members of the public as well as security operatives to go after these three jolly good friends.

Motorists and other road users plying the Jakande/Ejigbo/Ikotun route presently have cause to sigh in relief with the on-going rehabilitation and reconstruction of the failed and flood-prone road intersection at Iyana Ejigbo that has been notorious for frequent traffic bottlenecks, a nightmare for several years. More heartening, according to residents and road users, is the current effort to fix the drainage challenge believed to be responsible for the frequent flooding of the place any time it rains.

When Deaconess Ngozi Ike, a 39 year-old mother of five and a trader, woke at about 6a.m on August 10 to supervise her house chores and prepare food for her household, she did not know that death was looming. After taking care of her children and husband, Elder Frederick Ike, she set out on a journey of no return. Deaconess Ike, who hailed from Obiaruku, in Kwale, Delta State, left her Byazhin Across, Kubwa, Abuja home at about 8.30 a.m. for her shop in the village market where she was selling Nigerian prints and Hollandis.

OFFICIALS of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA and their federal counterparts in the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, should do well to pay a visit to the Arowojobe Village via Mende-Maryland in order to avert an imminent disaster. This is because residents in this ancient community in Kosofe Local Government of Lagos State are presently facing grave danger on account of the precarious nature of the only bridge linking them to neighbouring communities.

Bashorun Olainukan, a 36-year-old bricklayer had always dreamt of one day owning one of the leading block industries in Lagos State. But it will appear that the envisaged day will not come any time soon as the self-acclaimed expert brick maker is presently in a battle for his life and he has in fact cried out to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to come to his aid.

Residents of Lekki area of Lagos State are ignoring the latest warning by the state government of imminent danger from Sea Level Rise, SLR, which could lead to loss of lives and property. They have remained in their homes pretending that the warnings are inconsequential.

Offa, in Offa local government area of Kwara State, is on edge following the Appeal Court judgement which ordered its monarch, Oloffa, Oba Gbadamosi Mufutau, from the Anilelerin ruling house, to vacate the throne and directed the state government to install the rival candidate, from Olugbense ruling house, Alhaji Adegboyega Keji.

August 2, 2012, Governor Babatunde Fashola signed Lagos State Road Traffic Bill into Law. The law restricted the activities of commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as ‘Okada Riders’, from about 475 roads in the state.

A mild drama unfolded at the Surulere Magistrate’s court, Lagos, after a woman alleged to have presented a dud cheque to her lawyer as payment for his legal services, attempted to out smart him.