Govt to repair National Theatre

By Chuka Nnabuife, Gregory Austin Nwakunor and Erhumu Bayagbon

LIFE may soon return to the derelict National Theatre, Lagos as the Federal Government is now set to repair the edifice.

The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Franklin Ogbuewu, told reporters in Lagos yesterday that President Olusegun Obasanjo had given a nod to the repair of the badly damaged National Theatre pending the time government might decide to privatise it.

"I am happy to announce the issue of privatisation, as it was then, has now been turned to concession. But the true situation is that Mr. President has given approval for us to start renovating or repairing the National Theatre," the minister said.

He explained that given the badly damaged state of the structure, more than N1 billion would be required to repair it.

Because government would not be able to spend this amount at once, he said it would tackle the project in phases.

He stated: "It is a huge project that we cannot complete in one year. But what is important is, let us start somewhere. Like the main bowl of the theatre is almost useless now.

"During the rainy season, you cannot do anything in the whole place. But if we are able to recover the main bowl, gradually we will move over to the next significant point until we get everything done.

"However, the condition is that he (President) will not hesitate to give it to arts or culture practitioners to manage. So, we made our report and Mr. President has said that we can repair provided it will later be given out on concession. But the good news again is that before the end of the year, action will start towards the repair of the National Theatre," Ogbuewu said.

But the minister did not disclose if any amount had been approved for the first stage of renovation on the 28-year-old edifice built during Obasanjo's first regime as Nigeria's military head of state.

The former Nigerian Ambassador to Greece also disclosed that a new national cultural policy would be released later this year.

The document, which is intended to be more sector-specific, has reached an advanced stage.

Observing the flaws of the existing policy made into law in 1988, Ogbuewu said: "The cultural policy that we have now is quite old. It was not actually a product of this (Culture and Tourism) ministry. It is something inherited from the Ministry of Commerce and that of Information or so. So, we are looking at coming out with a cultural policy that will be in line with the current realities."

According to him, at a meeting he held recently in Jos Plateau State with experts in his ministry, a technical committee was established to put up a similar document on tourism.

"The main thrust of the cultural policy definitely would be to actually show the importance of culture in our lives because it is like many people still do not know the importance of culture to our life as a nation. Again, of course the bane of culture is finance. So, we have to find a way of raising funds for our arts and culture. And, we are going to look at contemporary global issues and see how we can bring them in line with the realities of life," he stated.

In November 2002, President Obasanjo, in his address to the National Festival of the Arts and Culture (NAFEST), observed that the 1988 National Cultural Policy was overdue for a re-draft.

He urged the sector to produce a new document that would reflect current national aspirations.

Bemoaning the failure of the nation to reap bountifully from its rich culture and tourism endowments, Ogbuewu said: "Nigeria has failed in this wise because past governments never showed interest in culture. They never realised that culture is wealth. They never realised the beauty of our culture. That is just it.

"But the President Obasanjo has always been somebody with a keen interest in culture and tourism. He was the first person to insist on taking visiting fellow heads of state to the Museum Kitchen to eat the country's native food.

"He built the National Theatre as a military head of state and before he left office in 1979, he made available N1 million to every state for the development of culture.

"That N1 million was only utilised by Kano State. So, Mr. President has always been keen on culture and tourism. I strongly believe that with him, now we can go places, especially with the renewed interest that he has now in tourism and culture."