The Minister for Culture and Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Sunday in Lagos, handed over the National Theatre to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers Committee for restoration and upgrade.
Speaking at the event, Mohammed said that the National Theatre, despite the arrangement, still remained a national heritage.
He said that the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture would continue to hold the keys to the iconic national heritage inspite of the Public Private Partnership arrangement between FG and the Bankers Committee.
“The Federal Ministry of Information and Culture will continue to hold the keys to the National Theatre on behalf of all Nigerians.
“What we are here to do is to handover the National Theatre for restoration and upgrade and also the 134 hectares of fallow land within the premises to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers Committee for development,” he said.
The minister said that the PPP arrangement would be in two phases which were: the restoration and upgrade of the National Theatre to its glory days, while the second phase would be the development of the fallow land surrounding the edifice.
“Another good news is that this project will not lead to any single job loss. Rather, it will create more. Over 6,000 jobs will be created during the construction phase while the completed project could generate additional 600 permanent jobs and 2,000 to 3,000 jobs. This is a good one,” he said.
Mohammed said that the project which had been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari would be a win-win arrangement for everyone involved.
“The place had been left for over four decades without any form of renovation.
“Government has no money to restore the complex. As you know, this is the hub of the creative industry in Nigeria.
“The National Theatre was established for the advancement of the performing arts throughout the country; to also encourage the promotion of the social development and improvement of the quality of life.
“But its present state is not living to its billing,” he said.
The minister said that the centre, upon upgrade, would comprise creative clusters of fashion, music, film and information technology which would be supported by other facilities including multi-storey parking space to accommodate over 1000 cars.
He said the potential of the new National Theatre is massive job creation, talent discovery for youths and the coming generation being an information and technology hub.
According to the minister, with the pandemic still biting hard, this project is much more divine and needed to battle the multi-headed challenge of unemployment, criminality and the negative impression that is thrust upon individuals who have chosen the life of crime.
0
0
