MINISTRY DEFIES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, CONCESSIONS NATIONAL ARTS THEATRE

A
major row may be brewing between the Federal Government and the National
Assembly after the executive defied a stay action order from the House of
Representatives and went ahead to concession the National Arts Theatre, Lagos.

The
concessionaire and the terms of concession remained a top secret last night
with sources saying only a few government officials have the details of the
deal.

One
source said it was doubtful if the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) was
carried along on the issue.

Following
a row over plans by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation
to turn the complex into a hotel, the House of Representatives had on April 8,
directed the minister, Mr. Edem Duke, to stay further action on the concession.
It also halted the planned ejection of three agencies from the Theatre Complex.

In a
letter signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Culture and Tourism,
Chief Ben Nwankwo, the Reps said they ought to be briefed on the inherent
public interest in the planned development of the Arts Theatre.

Also,
the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Culture, Tourism and National
Orientation, Sen. Ahmed Barata faulted the minister by claiming that
“interestingly, you have deliberately kept the Committee and National Assembly
incommunicado on the action so far in order to deny her its legislative role.”

Although
the two chambers of the National Assembly are still looking at issues involved
in the concession plans, a letter from a Federal Government Committee has
confirmed the action taken by the government.

The
confirmation of the concession of the Arts Theatre was contained in a letter by
the Federal Government Implementation Committee of the White Paper on the
Commission of Inquiry into the Alienation of Federal Government Landed
Properties.

In the
letter, the Secretary of the Presidential Implementation Committee, Mr. Kola
Adeyemi, said government had decided to “relocate some agencies of the Federal
Government that are currently located within and around the National Theatre
based on the concessioning of the monument and that some of the agencies are to
be moved to some offices at the Federal Ministry of Information Building, 15
Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos which is in the custody of your office.

“In
view of this, you are to, please cooperate with officers who have been given
the responsibility to handle the relocation so that this important national
assignment can be concluded on time,” he said.

A
government source, however, said: “Following media revelation about the secret
concession plan, the National Council on Privatisation summoned the minister on
why the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) was not carried along in the
exercise.

“The
NCP took the step because as far back as 2006, BPE had short-listed two firms
for the lease of the National Arts Theatre. The companies are Infrastructica
and Jadeas Trust.

“Infrastructica
actually won the lease bid to pay the Federal Government N35billion for 35
years. But it could not raise the required funds. The offer was then set aside
for Jadeas Trust.

“Instead
of allowing Jadeas Trust to take over, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and
National Orientation attempted to turn the complex into a hotel until it
boomeranged.

“We
don’t know whether they have conceded the National Theatre to Jadeas Trust or
not. We don’t know if they are still going ahead with their secret plot which
NCP aborted. It is strange to hear that a concession has taken place.

“The
National Assembly should assist Nigerians to know the truth on this concession
they are talking about.”

The
theatre was inaugurated on September 30, 1976 by the then Military Head of
State, General Olusegun Obasanjo.

It was
opened five months before the hosting of the Second World Black and African
Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) in January/February 1977.