Lagos Countdown

{{short description|Festival in Lagos}}

{{more citations needed|date=January 2014}}

{{Infobox recurring event

| name = Greater Lagos Fiesta

| native_name =

| logo =

| logo_caption =

| image = File:Lagos countdown.webm

| caption =

| genre = New Year's Eve event

| date = December 31

| begins =

| ends =

| frequency = Yearly

| location = Barbeach, Lagos Island, Epe, Ikorodu, Agege, Lagos

| years_active =

| first = 2012

| founder_name = Governor Babatunde Fashola

| last = 2020

| prev =

| next = 2021

| website = [http://www.lagoscountdown.com www.lagoscountdown.com]

| attendance =

| area =

| budget =

| patron =

| organised = Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency (LASAA)

| people =

| member =

| footnotes =

}}

The Lagos Countdown, renamed One Lagos Fiesta{{Cite web |date=2018-12-08 |title=Frenzy in Eko, as stars set to rock One Lagos Fiesta |url=https://t.guardian.ng/life/music/frenzy-in-eko-as-stars-set-to-rock-one-lagos-fiesta/ |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}} in 2015 and now Greater Lagos Fiesta,{{Cite web |date=2019-12-29 |title=Sanwo-Olu's 'Greater Lagos Fiesta' take over Lagos |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/12/sanwo-olus-greater-lagos-fiesta-take-over-lagos/ |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}} is an annual New Year's Eve event at the Bar Beach in Lagos.{{cite web|title=LASAA unveils plan for 2013 Lagos countdown|url=http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/11/lasaa-unveils-plan-for-2013-lagos-countdown/|publisher=Daily Independent|accessdate=21 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228061646/http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/11/lasaa-unveils-plan-for-2013-lagos-countdown/|archive-date=28 December 2014|url-status=usurped}}{{cite web|title=Dangote, Zenith Bank, NB, Others Throw Weight Behind Lagos Countdown 2013|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/dangote-zenith-bank-nb-others-throw-weight-behind-lagos-countdown-2013/163809/|publisher=This Day Live|accessdate=21 December 2014}} The event lasts for 21–23 days and traditionally begins on the 7th or 8 December and lasts through January 1 of the new year.{{cite web|last1=Akinsanmi|first1=Gboyega|title=Lagos Countdown to 2014 Begins December 7|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/lagos-countdown-to-2014-begins-december-7/164535/|publisher=This Day Live|accessdate=21 December 2014}} The first Lagos Countdown was held in 2012 as an attempt to drive up tourism and make an event similar to New Year's events in New York, Sydney, and other major cities,{{Cite web |date=2013-11-26 |title=Airtel backs Lagos Countdown Festival |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/airtel-backs-lagos-countdown-festival/ |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}{{cite web|title=Lagos Festival: UK fireworks experts arrive|url=http://thenationonlineng.net/new/lagos-festival-uk-fireworks-experts-arrive/|publisher=The Nations|accessdate=12 September 2013}} and in 2013 an estimated 200,000 people celebrated the event during a ten-day period and earned the city about one billion naira.{{cite web|last1=Obi|first1=Daniel|title=Lagos economy earns N1bn from 2012 countdown event|url=http://businessdayonline.com/2013/11/lagos-economy-earns-n1bn-from-2012-countdown-event/#.VJZi8sAD8|publisher=Business Day Online|accessdate=21 December 2014}}

Festivities for the countdown typically include fireworks, live music concerts, and karaoke.{{cite web|title=Tuface, Omawunmi for Lagos Countdown|url=http://www.punchng.com/feature/midweek-revue/tuface-omawunmi-for-lagos-countdown/|publisher=Punch Nigeria|accessdate=21 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221093812/http://www.punchng.com/feature/midweek-revue/tuface-omawunmi-for-lagos-countdown/|archive-date=21 December 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last1=Banah|first1=Namang|title=2face, Olamide, Wizkid, Iyanya, M.I, Ice Prince, Daddy Showkey, More|date=December 2014 |url=http://pulse.ng/events/lagos-countdown-2014-2face-olamide-wizkid-iyanya-m-i-ice-prince-daddy-showkey-more-id3317745.html|publisher=Pulse|accessdate=21 December 2014}} Performers at various countdowns have included Tuface Idibia, Olamide, and Funke Akindele, and previous countdown sponsors have included Airtel Nigeria.{{cite web|title=Airtel backs Lagos Countdown Festival|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/airtel-backs-lagos-countdown-festival/|publisher=Vanguard Nigeria|accessdate=21 December 2014}}

The 2013 Lagos Countdown was met with criticism from some participants as ticket distribution was held differently from the 2012 event, as tickets were not free and required that many participants purchase their own tickets via scalpers or to acquire tickets via Countdown sponsors.{{cite web|last1=OKULAJA|first1=AYO|title=How Lagos Countdown 2013 Was A Let Down|url=http://saharareporters.com/2014/01/11/how-lagos-countdown-2013-was-let-down|publisher=Sahara Reporters|accessdate=21 December 2014}} When asked about this, the corporate affairs manager of LASAA responded that while tickets were not intended to have been sold, the different distribution tactics were enacted as a form of crowd control and to avoid potential issues due to overcrowded space.