The National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos remains the property of the Federal Government despite having been handed over to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Bankers Committee for restoration.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, clarified on Sunday while handing over the edifice and its fallow land to the CBN/Bankers for restoration and development of creative industries park.
Mohammed, who described the day as historic in the annals of Nigeria’s creative industry, assured that “this iconic National Theatre remains a national heritage and will not be ceded to any person or group. What we are here to do is to hand over the National Theatre for restoration and upgrade and the fallow land within the premises to the Central Bank and the Bankers’ Committee for development. The Federal Ministry of Information and Culture holds the keys to the National Theatre on behalf of all Nigerians”.
The Minister added that the redevelopment will be in two phases and will provide over 6,000 jobs.
He said, “The Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre Project, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), has two phases. Phase 1 is to restore and upgrade the National Theatre to its glory days at the cost of 7 billion Naira. Phase II will be the development of the fallow land within the premises of the edifice, at the cost of 18 billion Naira. Altogether, the project is estimated to cost 25 billion Naira.
“Another good news is that this project will not lead to a single job loss. Instead, it will create more. Some 6,000 jobs will be created during the construction phase, while the completed project could generate up to an additional 600 permanent and 2000 to 3000
call-on/call-off jobs.”
Mohammed further noted that the project was a win-win for everyone involved, especially as the 44-year- old edifice had not witnessed any significant renovation previously.
Giving the detailed breakdown of the renovation, Mohammed said the first phase would witness upgrade of all the theatres, installation of new seats, upgrade of the sanitary facilities, installation of lifts, acoustics and specialist lightings.
The air conditioning, lighting, other power and plumbing will also be replaced/upgraded to international standards.
Phase 2, he said, “will involve the creation and implementation of a detailed master plan for the site adjoining the National Theatre, or the fallow land if you like. The highlights include the development of purpose-built clusters to provide world-class facilities for Nigeria’s Creative Industry. The new centre will comprise hubs for Fashion, Music, Film and Information and Technology (IT) hub. These creative clusters will be supported by other facilities including multi-storey parking to accommodate an additional 1,000 cars, a Visitors’ Welcome Centre which will house commercial and retail facilities, as well as administration and management offices,
among others.
Mohammed added that “both phases will be connected by carefully curated soft and hard landscape areas as well as waterways, providing an excellent semi and outdoors spaces for community use and entertainment, including an amphitheatre; installation of new infrastructure (roads and services mains) and upgrade of the existing ones.”
Also speaking at the ceremony attended by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said the bankers were targeting 1 million jobs from the renovation and redevelopment in the next five years.
Emefiele, who described the handover as timely, said work would be completed in 18 months and that the edifice, would have transformed into Nigeria’s Creative Industrial Centre.
The CBN Governor also noted that the creative industry has the potential to generate over $20 billion annually for Nigeria with its human capital resources and an enabling environment that would harness the creative talents of youths.
He said: “We must do more to encourage the innovative works of these young talented Nigerians as they can make significant contributions to the growth and development of our country.
“Second, given our growing population of close to 200m people, out of which 60 per cent are under the age of 35, it is imperative that we strive to create opportunities that will keep our youths engaged. It would portend great dangers for the progress of our nation if we allow these talents to go to waste”.
Emefiele disclosed that after Lagos, similar creative industries centres would be established in Kano, Port-Harcourt or Enugu.
