The federal government has set November 2022 as possible date for the completion and rehabilitation of the National arts theatre.
The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, made the disclosure when he appeared before the senate committee on tourism to defend the ministry’s 2022 budget
Mohammed affirmed that the federal government has signed a memoranda of understanding with the central bank of Nigeria and the bankers committee to invest in the rehabilitation of the theatre and hand it over to
the federal government.
He further hinted that the bankers committee have assured that the edifice will be completed by November, however with a clause of running the theatre for 21 years.
The minister announced that Nigeria has been offered the privilege to host the united nations world tourism organization which will hold next year
He appealed for more investment in the creative and tourism industry as the music industry alone makes N350million, fashion industry generates N2 trillion Naira, make up industry N1.53 trillion Naira, hospitality industry N2trillion naira,
books and publishing industry 1.2 trillion Naira.
The minister also said the federal government with the German government have signed an MOU to return 1,130 Benin bronzes stolen from Benin in 1897 which found their way to various museums in Germany.
Assuring that talks are ongoing with the government of Switzerland and France on the country’s cultural artifacts.
On the issues of digital switch he says it will create over one million jobs in the next two years and will provide spectrum worth over N200 billion Naira to sell to telecoms company.
The minister presented a budget proposal of N3.9 billion for the Ministry of Information and Culture.