Effect positive change in National Theatre – Ali -Balogun.

                 Mahmood Ali Balogun

The issue of concessioning of National Theatre has been one with many sides as stakeholders and  public have asked questions concerning the overall intent of Federal government in concessioning the place. They are of the view that with the wind of change that is blowing in all the areas of the country, there is the need to do a proper assessment of the move to save the country from the imminent danger the neglect of the place will cause.

National theatre is one big investment that requires huge fund to maintain and federal government in a bit to keep up the edifice which serves as one of the national prides decided to concession it. The deal as vaguely understood by some stakeholders sparked some outcries as why it should be sold.
Numerous beneficiaries of the outfit, such as thespians, artists, creative industry practitioners and the general public have cried out loud concerning their eviction and deprivation from usage of their once revered base of operation without a bequeathing alternative.
As the whole business of concession still stands vague to the  general public, proper definition of the transaction was made known to mean sale of fallow land surrounding the building which in the original master plan,was meant to compliment the edifice.
While stakeholders relentlessly aired their views on the issue, one, whose worries over the state of affairs of national theatre are still not defined, is Mahmood Ali-Balogun, the first president of NANTAP, who in a chart with media at Freedom Park, Lagos recently bemoans on how the concession deal has been handled.
Mahmood, after recalling the enviable state of the edifice during the tenure of Ahmed Yerima as General Manager laments that the place do really require an urgent attention to bring it up to its original self, if not elevated status.
Ali who acknowledged the efforts of previous administrators of national theatre to keep up the good status of the place, said that the current executives under Yusuf Kabir have done sort of disservice to the place with some uncomely measures that inadvertently reduced the patronage for example Booking prices were jerked up, even with dysfunctional facilities. The theatre environ especially, The Abeg spot opposite Yusuf’s office also attracts nefarious nocturnal misdemeanours, thus debasing the integrity of the only nation’s art edifice.
Mamoud argued “Why can’t the federal government do a thorough positive transformation change of national theatre like it happened in other areas like Freedom Park, Lagos, rather, people come, collect subvention without any tangible results. If urgent steps should be taken to rectify things, the institution will bring in international patronage and reposition the place to its original status.”
According to him, “Federal government was genuinely very interested in concessioning the place because it will help to alleviate its own burden as well as generates money to cushion service effects on the existing facilities.
Meanwhile, as good as government’s intention is a welcome development, the way and manner the project is been handled is not in good faith with stakeholder’s expectations. Also, stakeholders are not been carried along in the whole process.”  Mamoud also decried that the current administrator of the National theatre , Yusuf Kabir has not really paved way for smooth operation judging from its inexplicable interception of genuine processes to forestall viable project that will work for the place.
He said, critical projects or assignment which should be given to competent people always ends in the hands of politicians or people within a caucus who will always suggest someone that will not perform.