Yusuf disclosed this at a briefing at the National Theatre, saying: “we have not sold the National Theatre and we are not going to sell it”.

According to him, the stakeholders went on a road show to look for investors that will bid for the concession of the fallow land around the National Theatre.

“The road show is sequel to our advertisement on the local and international media on requests for “Expression of Interest” for the concession of the fallow land around the National Theatre.
“The bids were opened on December 22, 2014.

“It is in line with the Master plan for “Nigerian Entertainment City” which we want to create through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), in accordance with the Infrastructure Concession Reconstruction Agency (ICRC) Act, 2005,” he said.

The GM noted that that the National Theatre held four Investor Road Shows to shop for reputable local and international investors in four locations.

He said that the locations were in Lagos (Nigeria) on Nov. 6; London (United Kingdom), Nov. 13 and 14; Dubai (United Arab Emirates) Nov. 16 and Nov. 17, and Johannesburg (South Africa), Dec, 1 and 2, all in 2014.

The GM also said that ten Consortia indicated interest to participate in the PPP project to provide the following complimentary facilities: a Five Star Hotel and an International standard shopping mall.

Others are a multi-level car park, land and water recreation parks, office buildings and a facility management team.

Yusuf said that, “the Consortia that submitted pre-qualification documents were: Resilient Africa Propriety Ltd, CCECC Nigeria Ltd, Afrebay USA, Quippo Energy Nigeria Private Ltd and Neon Holdings Consortium.
“Others include: Trevari Group, Causeway Project Ltd, Calzada Ltd. RMB Westport and Chrismichaels Ltd/Topwide Apeas,” he said.

Yusuf, however, said that, “the prequalified bidders are seven companies which are Resilient Africa Propriety Ltd, CCECC Nigeria Ltd, Quippo Energy Nigeria Private Ltd, Neon Holdings Consortium, Calzada Ltd and RMB Westport.
“The seven companies are the ones to be issued with the Request for Proposal (RFP) in continuation of the process,” he said.

The National Theatre chief executive also said that there was a need to move the arts world forward and that the national theatre, which is known as the ‘home of Nigeria’s creativity’ had over the years been in a dilapidated state.

The representative of VGL Capital Ltd, Odulami Kehinde, the concession handlers, said that they would look for financially viable companies to handle the projects.

“They will design and build the projects, they will choose and document every step from takeoff to the last finishing,” he said.

NAN reports that the monument is located in Iganmu, Lagos.

The construction of the National Theatre was completed in 1976, in preparation for the 2nd World Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977.

The edifice has an exterior that is shaped like a military hat. with a 5500-seater Main Hall and a collapsible stage.

It has two 700/800 capacity cinema halls, both of which are equipped with facilities for simultaneous translation in13 languages.

In 2001, President Olusegun Obasanjo announced plans to privatise the edifice.

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The rain which started at about 7:30 a.m. was accompanied with stormy wind affected public and private buildings, churches, shops and mosques.

Reports indicate that rainstorm collapsed the building housing the national studios and workshop of the National Gallery of Modern Art, National Theatre, Iganmu.

The building of the SS Mulumba and David Catholic Church, Lawanson, Surulere, was also affected by the rainstorm as its roof was blown off leading to the disruption of the Mass.

At Gbagada, an electricity pole fell on the Owonroshoki-Oshodi Expressway leading to gridlock while traffic officers were seen diverting vehicles.

The National Theatre Staff Mosque was also affected by the rain as part its fence collapsed and members were seen clearing the debris.

Musa Yakubu, a member, attributed the damage to the poor quality of the block.

Yakubu, who decried the poor quality control measures in the country, told NAN that the authority of the mosque would use better materials for the rehabilitation.

Part of the roof of building housing the Tetrazzini Food Plc., National Theatre, Iganmu, was also destroyed while some buildings were also damaged Apapa Road, Lagos, Goriola, Nosamu and Alayabiagba Streets in the Olodi-Apapa.

The roof of the officers’ quarters of the Otto Police Barracks in Lagos Mainland was blown off leaving the occupants stranded and their belongings scattered.

A female officer, who spoke on the conditions of anonymity said: “the saddest part of the situation is that this is a yearly occurrence but thanked God that no life was lost.

“We are all stranded here with our children and our property, we don’t have anywhere to sleep.”

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A wine-colour Opel Omega occupied by three brothers plunged into the canal at about 9a.m. on Monday while a Toyota Camry painted in ash colour fell into the canal on Sunday night.

The driver of the Camry was the only occupant and all the four people in the two vehicles were alive.

The Opel Omega was marked JJN 583 AA and the Camry GGE 196 AR.

Report indicates that the Camry car took off from the National Theatre some seconds before it skidded off the road and plunged into the canal.

Ifeanyi Stephen, an occupant of the Opel Omega, said that he took no notice of the canal. “We were driving and thinking that the road was straight because we are not conversant with this route. By the time we got there, we saw that the place was water-logged. We applied the brake but the car didn’t stop. That was how the car fell into the water,” he told NAN.

Ariyo Jimoh, an Officer of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority in charge of the area, confirmed the incidents.

“The information we got is that the two vehicles ran into the canal. When we heard, we quickly sent our men to control traffic there. Two vehicles were involved, but there were no casualties.”

Meanwhile, motorists have appealed to the Lagos State Government to put barricades on both sides of the large canal to prevent such occurrences.

“The Ministry of Transport should put appropriate road signs in place,” Lukman Aremu, who plies the route daily, said

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