AS the world celebrates the beginning of a new year, 2013, today, much water has passed under the bridge of Lagos state. The year 2012, though, full of mixed grills across every sector of the state’s economy, witnessed wild protests against both federal and state governments harsh socio-economic policies.

They all wore swollen faces, with tears trickling down their cheeks. Some stood with hands akimbo and others placed their hands on their heads, watching as their goods were destroyed by fire. No thanks to the explosion that rocked Jankara Market in Isale-Eko area of Lagos State on Boxing Day. Worst hit were residents of the affected buildings who have been rendered homeless by the inferno which lasted over ten hours, defying efforts by fire fighters to contain the situation.

All has not been well in Evbuovbioba in Oredo Local Government Council of Edo State after what the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediuwa Uku Akpolopolo, alleged as disregard for the custom and tradition of the Benin Kingdom by the Enogie, His Royal Highness Edwin Izevbokun Aigbe, and the Odionwere, Mr John Egharevba.

For Mr. Ozokolie Sunday,a resident of Idumota in Lagos, December 26, 2012 will go down as a day he would live to regret. Ozokolie owned four shops in the popular Jankara market which was gutted by fire on Wednesday. Looking dejected and unable to control his emotions, Ozokolie told Vanguard Metro that he lost goods worth over N15 million to the fire disaster. The shops were located at Numbers 43 and 45 Ojo Giwa Street in the thickly populated Lagos Island Business District.

It is not commonplace for old men to weep in public glare but these elderly citizens could not hold back their tears as they recounted their ordeal arising from many months of neglect and the attendant sufferings. Having given their all to their fatherland during their 35-years of active service, these senior citizens had expected that they would be paid their gratuities and other retirement benefits without much ado. But that was not to be, a situation that has turned them into beggars, depending on foodstuffs from neighbours to eke out their daily living.

YOUTHS in Lagos are again in festive mood and they are organising end of year parties, also known as, street jamz or carnival, in several communities to get together and mark the end of the year, their own way.

If Mr. Olusola Olalere, the General Chairman, Ifeleye/Ogunpa Market had known the people whom he had offended as the leader of the market, he would not have hesitated to beg them for forgiveness.

IMMEDIATELY the Lekki Concession Company Limited, LCCI, announced its intention to commence a user based tolling at the 2nd Toll plaza on the Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe Expressway by midnight, December 16th, this year, members of the public rose in strong condemnation of the move describing it as “anti-masses.”

They were 16 with different missions but ended up the same way – tragically. Seven students were crushed by a granite-laden truck as they were returning home after school in Ewekoro local government area of Ogun State. Few hours later, another four persons died when a Toyota Camry car marked, Lagos MUS 948 AR, and a Mazda marked, Lagos JP 602 AAA, collided at Olodo village along Abeokuta-Ibadan Road in Obafemi-Owode local government area. As if it was a day of death in the state, another accident that claimed the lives of five persons occured at Ogere village, by the old toll gate along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Sagamu local government area.

A ‘silver alert’ has been issued for Tanwa Serifat Sanni, a 36-year-old lady, who was said to have left home mysteriously on Friday October 12, 2012 in Ajegunle, Lagos State, and has since not returned. What can possibly explain the disappearance of the young lady remains a mystery as she was said to have left her residence at No 116 Ezeagwu Street, Ojo Road, by Alao Bus-stop, Ajegunle, around 5am without a hint of where she was going.