The Federal Government has no
plans to sell the National Art 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 leading 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. 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.
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