Those of you too young to know what the National Theatre was like in its glory days of the late 1970s and 80s, are about to be astonished by the renewed beauty of Nigeria's most elegant and powerful cultural edifice.

My generation used to attend the National Theatre to watch the top US R&B bands of the day, like Kool & the Gang, Shalamar, The Brothers Johnson, Delegation, Dynasty and other acts, who toured Nigeria regularly, and played at the 4,000 seater main bowl of the then state-of-the-art, fully air-conditioned, world class National Theatre, Lagos.

Stevie Wonder played there once, I believe.

You know it had to be a top drawer venue for Stevie Wonder to play there.

Famous African acts like Ipi Ntombi of South Africa, Miriam Makeba, Manu Dibango, and others, famously graced the theatre in its hey day.

The renowned edifice fell into slow disrepair during the military regimes of Gen. Babangida and Abacha, and has been neglected ever since by successive govts.

Until President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, came to power, and, together with the Lagos State govt, decided that Enough was Enough.

That it was time to restore the National Arts Theatre, the pride of Nigeria, back to its glory days.

An unprecedented sum of 40 billion Naira was devoted to the renovation, and what we are about to see is the 21st century National Theatre, fully upgraded, updated, and ready to host the world's greatest superstars, in top class condition, once more.

National Arts Theatre, Lagos


National Theatre Renovation Project Meets Year-End Targets — Sanwo-Olu, Emefiele, Mohammed

Vanguard

GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele and the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, yesterday, expressed satisfaction with the level of renovation work being carried out at the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre, LC&EC, popularly known as the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Exchanging views during an inspection of the facility, the Project’s Steering Committee, led by its Chairman and CBN Governor, Mr Emefiele, noted that major milestones had been achieved since the project’s commencement on site early in 2021.

The over N40 billion investments committed to the project by the Bankers’ Committee is expected to deliver far-reaching benefits to the Nigerian economy and supports the initiatives of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to grow the creative industry and provide jobs to Nigeria’s youth population.

Sanwo-Olu, Emefiele, Mohammed and other members of the Steering committee, including the CBN Deputy Governor in charge of Financial System Stability, FSS, Mrs Aishah Ahmad; the Group Managing Director of Access Bank and Chairman of the Body of Bank CEOs, Herbert Wigwe; and the Managing Director of GT Holding Company, Segun Agbaje, noted that the entire heating, ventilation, air conditioning system, power, water supply and sewage systems are currently being replaced while fire safety standards are being significantly upgraded.



The nearly 3000sqm roof terrace, which had been a major source of leakages, is also currently undergoing repair, while the floors, walls, panels, and ceilings have been stripped back as part of a plan to ensure that all underlying structures can support new finishes.

In the 4000-seater main bowl, the new stage infrastructure will deliver future-fit performing arts spaces, for dance, theatre, music, and multimedia, with adjustable acoustics and advanced technical systems, adaptable to the requirements of audiences, artists, and sponsors.

The team also observed that the banquet halls and exhibition spaces as well as the two-500-seater cinemas had been stripped out, with new walls, floor and ceiling finishes being installed.

While inspecting the master plan for the adjoining 44Ha site, which had been concluded, the inspection team was informed that an environmental remediation exercise, along with the Lagos State Government, was also on course with the recently concluded Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Review led by the Federal Ministry of Environment of the 44Ha site.

Similarly, the committee was briefed that mitigation plans had been put in place to support the preservation of the natural ecosystem and manage all potential impacts, in line with the project sponsors’ commitment to ensuring the legacy of sound environmental principles.

According to the project team, the sand filling will commence shortly, having identified the areas that will generate the least impact on the environment through site studies (topographical, bathymetric, geotechnical, hydraulic and hydrology) conducted over 12 months.

Throwback:
A sad tale of zero maintenance culture for a national landmark.

Hopefully, Lagos State government will be able to restore it and better manage it.

flexyrule:
40 billion, just for renovation..

How much will a new one now cost?

What exactly is preventing angel Gabriel from blowing the trumpet?

234GT:
The money loks huge sha.

FreeStuffsNG:
Great!!
God bless all the patriots , the families and organizations who made this revamp possible.

Please invest in Lagos today.

We are a very hospitable people in Lagos .
Our Lagos is the startup capital of Africa and we have the best run city economy in Africa in terms of GDP.

We have a vibrant population that appreciates arts & entertainment greatly and we are the World Economic Forum-rated Africa's No 1 cosmopolitan city with with many infrastructures, a prestigious University of Lagos(UNILAG), beaches, great folklore traditional Yoruba & contemprorary Yoruba Afro hip-hop music , the city of Grammy Award winners and food!

In Lagos, you and your investments are safe and your invsstments are guaranteed of great returns.

Please bring your investments to Lagos.

Please invest in Lagos today.
Thank you.

FILEBE:


Bros. If I may ask, why exactly are you supporting Tinubu amidst other candidates?