From Left; Acting GM of National Theatre, George Nkante Ufot; Mrs Joke Sylva; Mrs Peace Anyam Osigwe; Mrs Bolanle Austin Peters; Special Adviser to LASG on Investment, Prof. Ademola Abass; Hon. Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; MD, New Dawn Production, Mrs Lillian Amah-Aluko; Chairman ZMirage, Alhaji Teju Kareem; AGM Business Development & Event Management, National Theatre, Mr Biodun Abe; Director, Engr. Services, National Theatre, Engr. Nwogu Ndubuisi; and other management staff of the National Theatre during the Inspection of facilities by the Minister on Saturday.

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.

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 newmanagement 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”.

Veteran actor, Jide Kosoko commended both the Federal and Lagos State Governments’ moves aimed at  revamping the National Theatre.

He noted that the theatre had been the pride of the entertainment and Nollywood industry over the years.

Kosoko lamented the poor conditions of the national  heritage and pride, saying that such conditions were  not encouraging.

According to him, the theatre by now, is  supposed to be the giant stride for creative industry where foreigners and neighbouring countries are supposed  to be learning and showcasing their talents to the world.

“The theatre should be the pride of Africa. It is a huge valuable asset for the government,” he said, adding that government should  do the needful so that the edifice would fetch it huge revenue.

” For government to realise huge revenue from the old edifice, it needed to  upgrade the theatre to international standard.

“Doing so will attract an influx of foreign counterparts, tourists, visitors and investors to the place, ” he said.

Kosoko expressed his dissatisfaction at the management of the theatre over the years by their negligence  and non-challant attitudes toward the complex.

He, however,  said that the government’s recent moves and commitment to renovate the theatre would promote the entertainment industry and attract investors.

The veteran actor urged the government to fix the toilet facilities and ensured they worked properly, lighting up its surroundings, beef-up security surveillance and equipped the halls to modern standard.

“This will in return generate and attract activities within the theatre, ” he said.

Kosoko also appealed to government to revisit the master plan of the theatre’s  artists’ village for proper implementation. (NAN)