Friday, January 28, 2011, is a day the staff of Imo State Customary Court of Appeal will not forget in a hurry. This is no thanks to a mysterious fire that completely razed the Court building located in the high brow Commissioners’ Quarters, Owerri. None of them had any inkling of the disaster that was lurking around the corner. But by Saturday morning, the once beautiful edifice had become a ghost of its former self.

Residents of Ejigbo, Idimu, Ikotun and environs have continued to react differently following the deployment and subsequent commencement of operations on Okota/ Ejigbo/ Ikotun roads by Bus Franchise Scheme, popularly called BRT in Lagos.

Hell was let loose again weekend following a fresh fracas that erupted in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. For a long time, Tafawa Balewa has, for a long time, been frequently embroiled in crisis. This latest clash resulted in the killing of four persons and several others injured, in addition to properties destroyed.

FOR Mr. Hope Adeleke, a serving police officer attached to one of the Police formations in Warri, Delta Delta State, Monday January 24 may possibly be the worst day of his life.

Another feather of honour has been added to the hat of the former Military Governor of the defunct Western Region, Major General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo (RTD) CFR OFR LL.D as the Igbimo Agba Yoruba(Yoruba Council of Elders) at its recent meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State unanimously conferred the prestigious title of Asiwaju of Yoruba Land on him.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state has approved about N 2.8 billion for the construction of the Ejigbo- Ajao Estate Link Bridge in remembrance of the over one thousand victims who lost their lives during the January 27, 2002 bomb blast.

They christened their pressure group the Niger Delta Youth Forum and also delight in describing it as a non-violent forum preaching and advocating for justice and equality, as well as canvassing for unity and moral values among youths of the region.

Traffic jams and the frustration they engender are not new to anyone in Lagos. But the situation was quite terrible for motorists, commuters and other road users on the Mile Two-cum-Berger end of the Oshodi – Apapa expressway on Tuesday.

NNAMDI Nwankwo, a 39-year-old Igbo trader at Ladipo Market in Mushin Lagos, would definitely not forget the trauma that he suffered on his way back from the village, where he had gone to celebrate the Christmas with his family. He left his Idi-Oro residence for his village at Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State last December.

Residents of Sango Ado-Odo Ota have cried out to government for assistance over their condition of living. They claim to have been living uncomfortably for six months due to no electricity , bad road and unavailable pipe-borne water in the area.

Almost immediately the South East Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universties, ASUU, called off its strike that lasted for about six months, full academic activities had resumed at the Abia State University Uturu with both the staff and students working in earnestly to make up for lost time. Students had hastily trooped back to the school with great joy and expectation on hearing that the school had reopened.

Abuja, the Federal Capital city, prides itself as the fastest growing city in the world. Moreso, the administrators of the capital city relish the nickname, Green City, borne by the city of Abuja.

Bayelsa State which prided itself as the “Oasis of Peace” in the Niger Delta in the aftermath of the restoration of the peace to the state following the Federal Government amnesty programme is gradually drifting towards its dark past as the 2011 general elections draws closer.

While calling for youth empowerment through Information Technology tools, the Nigerian Youth IT Ambassador, Nkemdilim Uwaje recently led a team of Bake for change in a Christmas visit to many remand homes including Lagos State Transit Home for Kids, Lagos State Correctional Centre for Boys, Lagos State Old People’s Home, Lagos State Children’s Transit Home.

The Okori community, in Eleme, Rivers State recently hosted the entire Eleme community to a delightful display of culture under the aegis of its annual cultural festival/ end of the year celebration.