The Minister of Information and
Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the partnership between the Federal
Government and Lagos State on the renovation of the National Theatre will
breathe life into the national edifice, reports ITRealms.
Speaking after an inspection tour
of the National Theatre in Lagos on Saturday, ahead of the renovation to
be carried out by Lagos State, the Minister described the theatre as a valuable
national asset that cannot be allowed to become derelict.
''We are here today (Saturday) to
take physical stock of what the Lagos State Government has offered to help us
with - that is the rehabilitation of the National Theatre.
''I want to use the opportunity to
express my gratitude and that of the Federal Government to the Governor, the
Government and the people of Lagos state, who have graciously offered to assist
to renovate the main bowl of the National Theatre, two cinema halls, the
exhibition lobby and the banquet hall as part of the collaboration between the
Federal Government and the State, especially as the state turns 50 this year,''
he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said ''with
the hand of friendship that the Lagos Government has extended to us, we are
very hopeful that we are going to get the main bowl, two cinema halls, the
exhibition lobby and the banquet hall renovated and ready for the Lagos at 50
celebration''.
''The National Theatre is an asset
we can boast of, and what we need to do is to bring it back to a working
condition,'' he said.
The Minister promised that after
the renovation, the national edifice will not be allowed to go into a state of
disrepair again.
''I know that the question on the
lips of many people is that what happens after the renovation. But I want to
assure Nigerians that it cannot be business as usual. The National Theatre now
has a new management that is in tune with reality and we will simply not allow
the National Theatre to degenerate to the level we met it today,'' he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said Lagos State
will benefit massively from the renovation of the theatre, ''because it is
going to give the necessary impetus to the creative industry''.
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