₦airaland Forum

Nigeria’s Minister for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, has denied that the government planned to convert National Theatre, Lagos, to a five-Star hotel.


Duke said in Lagos that there was no way an edifice, such as the National Theatre, could be converted to a hotel because it was not designed for that purpose. Some newspapers had reported that the government planned to convert the edifice to a hotel.

The monument, located in Iganmu, Lagos State, was constructed in 1976 in preparation for Nigeria’s hosting of the Black Festival of Arts and Culture in 1977. It has a 6,500-seater main hall with a collapsible stage, two 700 to 800 capacity cinema halls equipped with facilities for simultaneous translation in 13 languages. The management last year added two halls that could accommodate up to 1,000 people and stages for artistic performances.


Former President Olusegun Obasanjo's plan to privatise the facility in 2001 sparked controversy among the Nigerian arts community. Duke said that a committee was set up in September, last year, to look into the possibility of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the management of the facility.

“The committee consists of representatives of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Infrastructural Regulations Committee and Surveyor General,” he said. He said the committee engaged VGL Consultants, a foreign consulting firm, to look into ways of turning around the surroundings of the theatre. The minister said the theatre ground had empty space with smelly water, which should be rehabilitated and the land turned into a five-star hotel, a shopping mall, offices, leisure spots and car parks.

“This was designed 37 years ago, when the theatre was built but because of lack of funds, the plan did not come up. We issued a quit notice to National Gallery of Arts (NGA), National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) so that the plan can be materialised,” Duke said.

He said the affected offices had their headquarters in Abuja, and that “the offices they occupy here are shanty houses and the land belong to National Theatre.’’ He decried the way the media reported the issue without getting the truth of what happened. Meanwhile, the General Manager of the National Theatre, Mr Kabir Yusuf, said proper evaluation of the theatre would be conducted within three months. Yusuf said that adverts would be placed in newspapers for interested firms to bid for the development. “This will be done within three months, and then, a lot of proposals would follow. The main bowl of the National Theatre needs about N4 billion to put it back in shape but there is no fund to make it work.

“So, we have to source for funds, we can’t allow an edifice like that to die just like that. It is a symbol of culture,” he said.

Convicted pension thief, Mr John Yakubu Yusufu, Monday, challenged the powers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to prosecute him over his alleged complicity in another N300million fraud.

Yusufu who was earlier handed a light sentence by trial Justice Abubakar Thalba of an Abuja High Court at Gudu after he confessed that he conspired with six other civil servants and stole N23billion from the Police Pension Fund, Monday, insisted that the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to hear the fresh case brought against him by the anti-graft agency.

The accused person who was a former Director of Pension in the Police Affairs Ministry, is answering to a 4-count criminal charge.

In the fresh charge, he was said to have on or about February 14, 2012, knowingly failed to make full disclosure of his assets and liability in the Declaration of Assets Form he filled and submitted, and equally failed to declare that he owns a company known as AY-A Global Services Limited.

EFCC told the court that he used the name of the company and lodged in a fixed deposit account with the Zenith Bank, the sum of N250million, N10million in a fixed deposit account with the First Bank of Nigeria Plc, and another N29 million which he was said to have instructed one Danjuma Mele to lodge in his company account in the name of Jidag Technical Services Ltd with Diamond Bank.

The offence according to the prosecuting agency is punishable under section 27 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment e.t.c) Act Cap E1 2004.

However, the accused person through his lawyer Mr F.C Ibeh, urged the trial court to either hands-off his trial of quash the entire charge for want of jurisdiction.

The Federal Government has disclosed plans to begin local manufacturing of auto spare parts.

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Muhammed Sada, said this at Ota, Ogun State, during the inauguration of a new factory, Sun and Sand Industries Africa Limited.

Sada said his ministry would incorporate products from Sun and Sand Limited, ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, and other automobile manufacturing firms to realise the plan, aimed at creating jobs.

He said, “We are currently working on some projects whereby some of the major automobile manufacturers would be invited to the country to speed up activities in the production of basic spare parts for the motor industry with the hope that we would build it to the level where we would be able to produce motor vehicles.

“This is where you come in; we would not be thinking of this kind of programmes without companies like yours, you would be part of the framework with which the automobile framework will be built; your operations are central to whatever achievement that framework is aimed at.

“We are in a strong partnership with your company, which we believe would develop the industry, and most importantly, providing the required jobs for the Nigerian people.”

The minister said the government had decided to leave the development of the steel industry to the private sector, adding that the government would only serve as regulator for the activities within the sector.

“This has led government into privatising most of the operations in the sector. The idea is to ensure that a level-playing field and an enabling environment is created for businesses to progress and grow and be the drivers of the achievements that are found in the sector,” he said.

Sada added Sun and Sand Limited requested for approval to start mining projects that would support the backward integration of their operations.

“We have undertaken quite a number of geological studies and come to realise the abundant natural raw materials, which your company and many others in this country can take advantage of,” he said.

Founder and Managing Director, Sun and Sand Industries Africa Limited, Mrs. Shweta Satija, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its policies that had helped the company to survive.

She said plans had been concluded for the company to venture into some other projects to boost the nation’s economy and increase job opportunities for Africans.

source: http://news.naij.com/31697.html?sub=1&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=local

just coming in: ghana 0 civ 0 end of 1st half

thot ghana and civ are playing at same time too. so how far in that match, anyone pls

these congolese have gone gaga kicking like farmers

akhis: Which station dey show this match

NTA sports 24

what is ghana playing now, anyone?

goal no. 3 for 9ja

peanroro 4 9ja and zain 4 congo

goaaalllll success

the stadium is so empty that you could hear our bench shouting "wa sere"

these congolese are not bad either

Some Muslims are even afraid of their fellow Muslims cos they know what their evil twisted minds are capable of doing.

One slow clueless imam will say one day that any Muslim that kills anyone is not a true Muslim? These devils will always refer to the holy Quran as the basis and motivation for their actions, so who is right

spywareczar: The bombers re muslims

how true; not all muslims are terrorists (yet) but most terrorists are muslims

has buhari forgotten all he said about the north being the chosen ruling zone of the country?

now he wants to merge with the same people he called subjects in order to win?

i think the guy needs to have a re-think and start explaining all the inciting statements he's made

@ ayox2003

What gives? I just will vote for him.

have you forgotten that he cannot rule the country all alone? he must present himself as a member of a political party with clear agenda.

now assuming he's elected, don't you think his past unguided utterances may hunt him? he was never a good loser always causing unrest after every election, so what does he expect from the loser if he wins?

can you remember that a lot of lives were lost due to his utterances which he never regretted? how does he think families of such people will react?

he never openly reprimand boko but believed they were fighting for the cause of what they believe?

i wish i could vote him but he has a lot to clear himself of. its not as if GEJ is better but Buhari has a hidden agenda that can plunge this country into even a deeper crisis than the one its experiencing presently.

ayox2003: Let him be arrogantly stubborn.

He was stubborn enough to fight corruption when he was the head of state - even against Babangida.

He was stubborn enough to start War Against Indiscipline (WAI) that birthed Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) in Lagos.

He was stubborn enough to distribute a bags of rice to civil servants when importers hoarded rice and the people were starving.

He was stubborn enough to reject the IMF's proposal of devaluing the naira so that nigerians won't spend exorbitant prices on goods and services.

He was stubborn enough not to increase interest rates to 30% as proposed by the West.

Please give me this stubborn man anytime anyday. And if being stubborn translates to good governance, I'll rather vote for a stubborn man than a gentle dove.

It irks me that people don't vote based on in-depth knowledge and record. Sentiments, outward appearance, tribe and religion beclouds reason and justice.

If we pass this to the next generation, we will fail once again, like our ancestors.

Frawzey

on which political platform will he contest?

does this mean that the merger has agreed to present him as its presidential candidate or what?

Former Head of State and Congress for Progressive Change presidential candidate in the 2011 presidential election, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said he will not disappoint Nigerians if given the mandate to lead in 2015.


He also promised to transform the country positively.

Addressing the CPC North-West zone Contact and Mobilisation Committee in Kaduna on Wednesday, the former military leader insisted the elections of 2003, 2007 and that of 2011, lacked fairness and credibility.

Buhari, who said this had resulted in Nigeria’s poor development, pointed out that the Peoples Democratic Party had almost ruined the country.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to support the opposition parties merger initiative to wrest power from PDP.

National Coordinator of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee, Senator Solomon Ewuga, said the meeting was to sensitise party members on the planned merger.

He called for their support in order to ensure that the proposed merger becomes a reality.

source: news.naij

Yomii: To whom brain is given much sense is expected. Beauty without intelligence is a display of cosmetics. To me, i value character. Character makes a lady hot and not the butt; Character makes a lady marriageable and not look. A woman is hot if she is of a high classified character.

Yomii: To whom brain is given much sense is expected. Beauty without intelligence is a display of cosmetics. To me, i value character. Character makes a lady hot and not the butt; Character makes a lady marriageable and not look. A woman is hot if she is of a high classified character.

see this liar better shut that buccal cavity up and stop deceiving yourself
why don't you run along and marry bance younger sister whose character i heard is out of this world

beauty is a combination of character and looks; good look without character can land you in a rich man's house but surely not a poor brat's hand but good character without good look will make a good wife that may end up pennyless.

you have to look good not by reconstructing your body but by taking good care of yourself and being happy with who you are and your character must receive the better attention though.

in my candid opinion, she must be good looking and be well behaved

this is a repeat of last election, buhari has come back for 2nd leg.
if this is the best candidate the north can present for 2015, then i think they are in a lot of bull Poo.

buhari can only get my vote (if it counts) if he can tell me why he's behind the boko boys and assuming he's elected, does he think the southern thugs (mend and the rest) will not disrupt his government as he promised gej and duly fulfilled it?

at his age, does he think he has the mental and physical capability to handle the affairs of 9ja? why is he so particular about going back to aso rock? what agenda is he fighting and struggling to implement in 9ja?

seem these ivoriens are older cos they are so tired towards the end of the game

@ op is this her real pix?

who is this brat with diarrhea of the mouth

source: http://news.naij.com/31021.html?sub=1&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=local

The growing assault on free speech in Nigeria took another dimension on Friday as Kaduna-based Liberty Radio FM was slammed with a hefty N2 million fine over a phone-in discussion programme.

The station’s ‘crime’? It aired a live comment by a caller who objected to the planned visit of the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, to the state. The caller suggested that the governor of Kaduna State spend the N150 million it cost to host the Minister’s so-called "Good Governance Tour" on more meaningful things.

In addition to the fine, Liberty Radio FM was also asked to feature the Minister as a guest.

The popular station, it would be recalled, also recently interviewed the governor of Niger State, Governor Aliyu Babangida, who declared categorically on air that President Goodluck Jonathan did sign an agreement with governors of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2011 to spend only one term in office.

A source at the station told SaharaReporters that they have received up to 15 letters querying their broadcast from the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), a body set up under military dictator Ibrahim Babangida to censor electronic broadcasts in the country.

The attention to the station culminated in the letter received on Friday announcing it has been slammed with the fine over the comment by the caller on a live Hausa programme - "InA Dalili." The letter demanding payment of the fine was backdated to April 4, 2013.

Last week, the police in Abuja, at the instance of Mr. Jonathan, illegally detained four journalists of Leadership newspaper for a story about a “presidential directive” aimed at muzzling opposition in the country.

Despite his increasingly unproductive government, Mr. Jonathan wants to run for president again in 2015.

@ op
thanks for the mail and for keeping to your word really appreciate it.
will try out your steps and will get back to u

onyefin: Its better than police handling the case

what do you mean? if its police, the guy could have given them bribe and drive home safely.