National Arts Theatre and its discontents

  There was a report in the dailies last week that caused uproar in the arts industry. The report said the National Theatre would be turned into a hotel by the Federal Government. And some stakeholders fear this will impact negatively on the arts industry. What some of them may not know is that plans have been ongoing since last year by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and National Orientation to involve private developers to rebuild the National Theatre and its environs. The arrangement is not solely private; it is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) where the swampy land around the theatre will be leased to the private sector to build a mall, a five-star hotel and other amenities.

Some stakeholders may not agree with this arrangement, but it is very important for them to know that the National Theatre can no longer be left in utter disrepair and dilapidation. The edifice is wasting away with the environment taken over by hoodlums who have built shanties on the empty lands surrounding the theatre. In fact, some of these hoodlums rear pigs on the land with dead bodies littering some part of it. No matter the reformation that takes place within the theatre complex itself, if the environs are not properly sanitised with the empty lands adequately managed, the area boys will pose security threat to visitors to the theatre – and they are already doing this.

There is nothing bad in the ministry going back to the master plan which says the current Artistes’ Village is the proposed site for a five-star hotel while the present Abe Igi is for a world-class shopping mall. 

Already, the House of Representatives has asked Edem Duke, minister of tourism, culture and national orientation, to stay action on the ‘controversial’ plan to build a five-star hotel and shopping mall at the theatre. However, what the lawmakers and other stakeholders should know is that it is critical for this development to take place at the National Arts Theatre at this point in time. They must put into consideration the change that is taking place in the Lagos metropolis with the light rail project that is nearing completion.

One of those areas in Lagos that will enjoy that dramatic change is the Marina, Iganmu and Orile axes as light rail will pass through them. Quite interesting is the fact that there will be five light rail stops between Marina and the National Theatre, Iganmu. What this means is that commercial activity will pick up at the National Theatre. The theatre cannot afford to be left behind in all these developments. The management of the theatre must be prepared for this explosive and dramatic change that is coming in the area.

It is critical that the National Arts Theatre be restored to what it was at its glorious opening 35 years ago. The lights adorning its military cap-shaped exterior have ceased to work many years ago. Its 5,000-seat main hall with a collapsible stage is caked with dust. The two 700-800 capacity cinema halls, which are equipped with facilities for simultaneous translation of eight languages, among others, are not working. In spite of a couple of interventions, the huge 7,000-seat main bowl of the theatre remains decrepit. The theatre is ranked the largest in Africa, bigger than that of Durban and Cape Town in South Africa.

Therefore, stakeholders and the National Assembly should endeavour to support this move to revamp the theatre. Also, the tourism minister must make the whole PPP process transparent. He should make information available to stakeholders and the general public. It is not in the best interest of the nation for information to be hoarded in this technology-driven age.