The
Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mr. Edem Duke, has
ordered the ejection of some agencies from the National Arts Theatre Complex in
Lagos.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mr. Edem Duke, has
ordered the ejection of some agencies from the National Arts Theatre Complex in
Lagos.
This is in defiance of a directive of the House of
Representatives which is currently probing plan by the ministry to concession
the complex.
Representatives which is currently probing plan by the ministry to concession
the complex.
The ejection of the agencies commenced on Wednesday following a
letter from the Ministry.
letter from the Ministry.
Ejected are the National Council for Arts and Culture, Nigeria
Gallery of Arts and the National Troupe of Nigeria, among others.
Gallery of Arts and the National Troupe of Nigeria, among others.
Members of the House Committee on Culture and Tourism, shocked
by the development, are expected to visit the complex next week for first hand
assessment of the situation.
by the development, are expected to visit the complex next week for first hand
assessment of the situation.
The House Committee had on April 8 directed the Minister to stay
further action on the concession and halted the planned ejection of three
agencies from the Theatre Complex.
further action on the concession and halted the planned ejection of three
agencies from the Theatre Complex.
Investigation revealed that the minister has asked all agencies
at the Theatre Complex to vacate the place because the Federal Government is
going ahead with the concession of the edifice.
at the Theatre Complex to vacate the place because the Federal Government is
going ahead with the concession of the edifice.
A member of the House Committee said: “We have just got report
that an ejection letter was sent to all the agencies at the Theatre Complex.
This is sub-judicial to the ongoing investigation of issues raised on the
minister’s plans.
that an ejection letter was sent to all the agencies at the Theatre Complex.
This is sub-judicial to the ongoing investigation of issues raised on the
minister’s plans.
“We have not lifted the order that the status quo should be
maintained by the minister. We will not take kindly to the ejection of the
agencies.
maintained by the minister. We will not take kindly to the ejection of the
agencies.
“Some stakeholders have just raised a fresh alarm that building
a hotel in the complex will cause serious sewage and environmental problems
within the area in Lagos . “The site is also a swamp. So, some of the
stakeholders are calling on the Federal Government and Lagos State not to allow
what happened in Kenya five years ago, where an edifice erected on swampy area
collapsed, to repeat itself in Nigeria.
a hotel in the complex will cause serious sewage and environmental problems
within the area in Lagos . “The site is also a swamp. So, some of the
stakeholders are calling on the Federal Government and Lagos State not to allow
what happened in Kenya five years ago, where an edifice erected on swampy area
collapsed, to repeat itself in Nigeria.
“Also, the stakeholders alleged that the relevant ministry has
not conducted a couple of tests required for such expansion.”
not conducted a couple of tests required for such expansion.”
In its letter, signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on
Culture and Tourism, Chief Ben Nwankwo, the House ordered the Minister to stay
action on the ejection of the affected agencies.
Culture and Tourism, Chief Ben Nwankwo, the House ordered the Minister to stay
action on the ejection of the affected agencies.
The letter had said: “It will be only expedient you agree with
me, to stay the quit notice already served on the tenant parastatals until the
Committee is fully brought in the picture of the public interest inherent in
the planned development, which has regrettably generated confusions and
controversies in certain quarters.
me, to stay the quit notice already served on the tenant parastatals until the
Committee is fully brought in the picture of the public interest inherent in
the planned development, which has regrettably generated confusions and
controversies in certain quarters.
“I crave your full cooperation and understanding of the purpose
of this communication and comply in the overall interest of the sector and our
country at large. Please, kindly accept the assurances of my esteemed regards.”
of this communication and comply in the overall interest of the sector and our
country at large. Please, kindly accept the assurances of my esteemed regards.”
The theatre was inaugurated on September 30, 1976 by the then
Military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo.
Military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo.
It was opened five months before the hosting of the 2nd World
Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) in January/February
1977.
Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) in January/February
1977.
Source: The Nation
