2Face

Lagos state Government has unveiled the ‘One Lagos Fiesta’ Crossover event, which will be staged simultaneously in five locations between 27 December and 1 January 2016, with one million Lagosians and 50 artistes being mobilised for the great event.

The One Lagos Fiesta replaces the annual Lagos Countdown event during the former Governor Babatunde Fashola administration.

At a news conference at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Folorunsho Folarin-Coker said about over 50 artistes were expected to perform for over 300 hours at the event.

He said over one million people would welcome the year 2016 at the biggest crossover party in sub-Saharan Africa.

Don Jazzy

“We reviewed the successes recorded so far with the Lagos Countdown and settled for a model that will turn the entire State into one community; celebrating change and the achievement of the past year with a strong expression of hope for the year ahead.

“Lagos prides itself as the economic and socio-cultural hub of sub-Saharan Africa with a flamboyant multi-cultural expression of its art. It is home to people from all parts of Africa and serves as a pot of diverse language groups,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the One Lagos Fiesta is to further the tradition of the crossover celebration in the state but with an expanded venue format.

“The event will also showcase the multi-cultural endowment and arts of the various communities spread across the five administrative divisions of the State.

“Consequently, we have decided to take the crossover party to Agege Stadium (Ikeja), Badagry Stadium (Badagry), Ikorodu Town Hall (Ikorodu), Bar Beach (Lagos) and Epe Youth Centre (Epe),” he said.

Folarin-Coker added that adequate arrangements had been made for security, traffic management, sanitation, health and safety concerns, urging vigilance from members of the public at all times.

He said the forth coming One Lagos Fiesta is an entire private sector funded initiative at no expense to the State Government.

“The One Lagos Fiesta is a five-day celebration of lights, fun, food, drink, comedy, dance and theatre with a strong infusion of the culture of each location.

Some of the artistes expected at the event are Olamide, Tuface Idibia, Don Jazzy and several others.

Attendance at the briefing includes Mr Steve Ayorinde, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy; Adebimpe Akinsola, Special Adviser Arts and Culture and Habeeb Aruna, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Lagos State