…We receive about 10 fire distress calls everyday — Firefighters boss
The prayer on the lips of most people on the eve of every New Year is that the coming year should bring good tidings. It is too early to tell if the prayer has been answered 22 days into 2013 but the series of fire disasters witnessed in the first two weeks of the year in Lagos do not give cause for cheer. So far, about 125 buildings have been gutted by fire with the fire service receiving an average of 10 distress calls everyday.

…No cause for alarm — Fashola
AS the rainy seasons draw near, Lagos residents have begun to express fear over the preparedness of government to curtail the perennial flood challenge confronting the state.

Imo State is becoming increasingly unsafe. Criminals perpetrate their sordid activities at will. People hardly sleep with their two eyes closed. Hypertension is becoming a major health problem in the state because everybody is apprehensive about who will be the next victim of kidnappers or assassins.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she gazed at the photograph in front of her. She struggled to clean the tears with her wrapper. Ceaseless tears have been the lot of Madam Timipah Okoba’s for the past 10 years when her only child, Tonye Berepubo, was cut down in his prime by gunshots fired during a fracas involving members of an Ijaw youth group which was then factionalised.

WHAT played out in England in 1936 when King Edward VIII abdicated his throne to marry the woman he dearly loved, seems to be playing out in Igbodo kingdom in Delta State. The Obi of the community is in a tangle with his subjects over whether to abide by the age-long tradition and custom of the people and marry a native or insist om marrying his Abakaliki-born heartthrob.