Spectacular firework display in London's major landmark ushered in 2013, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports on Tuesday.
Thousands of people gathered on the banks of the Thames , London Eye, the Shard, Western Europe's tallest building, near London Bridge, among others to watch the count- down display, which lasted for 11 minutes.
?Mayor of London, Mr Boris Johnson, in a statement ahead of the count-down said the fireworks would round off a year that “glimmered with excitement and enthusiasm”.
?As early as 3pm on Monday, many streets in London central were closed, resulting in heavy traffic in the city's tube service.
NAN reports that Public transportation was made free from 23:45 GMT until 04:30 GMT, to allow for easy movement.
Some Nigerians who witnessed the firework display expressed gratitude to God for seeing the New Year. Mr Joe Edi, a tourist from Lagos, said: “To God be the glory, that we are alive today is not by our power or might but for God's grace.”
Similarly, Mrs Amina Dauda, a Dentist and member of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK), said the New Year should be seen as a period of celebration and sober reflection.
?”You can see how excited people are here because they share a common interest which is to usher in the New Year, unfortunately, back home we live in fear because we are intolerable of ourselves, paving way for hate crime.
“Let's bury the past and move forward as we celebrate 2013,” she said. Firework display, ushering the New Year is an annual event , which attracts crowd across the world.
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