While
speaking on Tuesday night at a dinner with Nigerian TV and online
content developers in France, Minister of Information and Culture, spoke
on the reported plans by Federal Government to sell the National Arts
Theatre in Lagos.
National Theatre, Lagos
The Federal Government has no plans to sell the National Arts
Theatre to the Lagos State Government, Minister of Information and
Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said.
Mohammed made this known on Tuesday night at a dinner with Nigerian
TV and online content developers attending the ongoing MIPTV in Cannes,
France.
MIPTV is an annual TV and online content development event and the
largest global distribution television and digital content market.
The minister who described the Arts Theatre as a national monument,
stressed that it was impossible for anyone to sell any asset of
government without following the due process and clear cut rules.
He explained that the Lagos government offered to renovate the main
bowl of the theatre, two cinema halls, the exhibition lobby and the
banquet hall as part of its collaboration with the federal government.
“I want to say it loud and clear that there is no iota of truth
in the rumour that we are selling the national theatre to the Lagos
state government. We do not have the capacity to do so and will never do
so.
“What is happening is that we are fortunate to have a governor
like Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos who is very passionate about the creative
industry.
“The governor decided that he is going to mark the 50th
anniversary of Lagos with cultural activities, films, music and he was
looking for a befitting venue.
“He now decided to take the opportunity of this 50th
anniversary to collaborate with the federal government to revamp the
national theatre to use it as a venue for most of the programmes and at
the same time laid the foundation for a viral and dynamic creative
industry,’’ he said.
The minister noted that the whole essence of the collaboration for
the renovation of the theatre is to ensure that the national asset did
not go into ruins.
“The governor is asking for nothing, rather he is foresighted
in knowing that a renovated and functional national theatre will be a
catalyst for the film industry, theatre art, music.
“He also realised that by revamping the theatre, more young men
and women will be able to exhibit their talents and more jobs will be
created and more taxes will accrue to Lagos state purse.
“Therefore, for everybody it is a win-win situation and there is no attempt whatsoever to sell any national asset to anybody,’’ he said
NAN reports that the dinner was hosted by the Director General of National Broadcasting Commission, Modibbo Kawu.
Some of the TV and online content developers at the dinner were, Mr
Tajudeen Adepetu the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Soundcity,
ONTVand ONMAX, Mr Jason Njoku the CEO of Iroko TV and Ijeoma Onah of
Aforevo TV, a French Nollywood Channel.
-NAN