Govt to turn National Theatre into hotel

•Minister gives agencies two-week quit notice
A LAGOS landmark is set for a new status – if the Federal Government
succeeds in its plan to find another use for it.
The 37-year-old National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos Mainland is to be
converted into a five-star hotel.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Edem Duke has
given a two-week quit notice to Federal Government agencies at the
facility.
Some of the agencies are National Council for Arts and Culture;
Nigeria Gallery of Arts; National Troupe of Nigeria and an unnamed
agency.
But some stakeholders have rejected the plan, especially the sudden
quit notice given to the agencies.
They are saying the Federal Executive Council did not approve the
proposal and that a transaction advisor was appointed without due
process.
Other stakeholders also see the plan as an attempt to short-change the
Southwest.
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 2nd World Black
and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC '77) in
January/February 1977.
The Federal Government unfolded its plan through a March 18 letter the
Minister sent to some agencies, including those that had been directed
to leave the edifice.
Prior to the letter, it was gathered that the minister did not brief
chief executives of the parastatals under him on the government's
plan.
But the two-week quit notice aroused the stakeholders' curiousity
about the project.
According to sources, an investor from Niger Delta has been linked to
the project which may be executed with the Marriot Hotel Group.
Although the government is hiding under the guise of expanding
infrastructure at the National Theatre, most stakeholders are said to
have got more information on the deal.
The minister's letter reads: "The President and Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, has approved the development of the
National Theatre Land in accordance with the original Masterplan with
infrastructures (sic) which include, but not limited to a Five-Star
Hotel, Shopping Mall, Multi-Level Car Park, Land and Water Restaurant,
offices.
"Consequently, a Transaction Advisor was engaged, to, among others
give Transaction Advisory Services for the application of
Public-Private Partnership option for the delivery of the necessary
services on the land.
"Please recall that the inevitability of relocating your office was
discussed at the meeting I had with you on this development on 5th of
March, 2013 in Lagos .
"To this effect, you are hereby advised to relocate your office within
two (2) weeks to an alternative location as suggested at the meeting,
so as to pave (sic) way for the development that is to be situated
where your office is currently located.
"Please note that this relocation is temporary as the structures that
will eventually provide accommodation for your operations are being
envisaged under the new arrangement.
Read more here:
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/govt-to-turn-national-theatre-into-hotel/