Where will you be 11:59pm on December 31st, 2012?…As the Countdown to New Year Begins in Lagos

Lagos State Government has commenced activities to usher in the New Year with large scale countdown event for the first time. The event, which began Thursday, December 20 with a “Festival of Lights” organised in conjunction with the Lagos State Electricity Board, witnessed the switching-on of thousands of decorative lights by the governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, lighting up the entire stretch of the CMS Marina through to Ahmadu Bello Way on Victoria Island..

Initiated by the Lagos State Signage & Advertising Agency (LASAA) and tagged “Lagos Countdown”, the event will witness a gathering of over 50,000 Lagosians over a period of two weeks featuring a potpourri of Lagos State activities with lots of branded entertainment goods on display.

Speaking at a news briefing prior to the commencement of the event, the managing director of LASAA, Mr. George Noah, said the Lagos Countdown Event will be in the form of that witnessed in major cities of the world like Time Square, New York and Trafalgar Square, London.

“What we are trying to do here is to recreate what happens at Time Square, Trafalgar Square, or in Dubai or Sydney or in Paris as we are having now. We want Lagos to be first African city to be so recognised when it comes to countdown; so recognised especially on our own local networks and international networks.

“If you watch countdown over the years, you will find out that New York, all these major cities I mentioned and the ones that are in the picture no African city. We want to do a spectacular show such that will beat what happens in New York, in Trafalgar Square, or anywhere in the world,” he explained.

With a maximum of 15,000 participants followed by a specially created audio midnight countdown and a 20-minute live show anchored from the rooftop of Avenue Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, the countdown, which includes appearances by top music artists, will showcase display of lights, music, fireworks, pyrotechnics and lighting effects to signify the commencement of the New Year at the Eko Atlantic City on December 31 from 8pm.

This maiden edition of the Lagos Countdown is sponsored by GT Bank, Indomie Noodles, Avenue Suites, DStv and powered by Star Lager Beer.

Visit www.lagoscountdown.com to find out more.