The management of the National Arts Theatre Complex in
Iganmu, Lagos, has named two companies, Topwide Apeas/
Chris Michael Limited and Calzada Nigeria Limited, as the
preferred bidder and reserved bidder in the ongoing process
for the concession of the fallow land around the complex.
Noting this at a meeting with journalists on Tuesday, the
General Manager of the complex, Mr. Kabir Yusuf, said the
two companies were among the three that previously
submitted technical and financial bids in line with the
concession plan not including the rehabilitation of the hostel for students accomodation. The poor status of the hostel is not their priority.
Yusuf noted that the companies were selected after their
technical and financial bids were opened and evaluated by a
special team, comprising representatives of the National
Theatre and its transaction advisers under the supervision of
the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Committee, which is
the official regulator of the project.
“This result has been certified by the ICRC and the companies
have been communicated to accordingly. The next stage of
this transaction is negotiation and the preparation of the Final
Outline Business Case for the approval of the Federal
Executive Council, after which the project will commence,” he
said.
In reaction to a fresh rumour alleging plans to convert the
main building of the National Theatre Complex into a hotel,
the Yusuf added, “It is important to reiterate that the
concession arrangement relates to only the fallow land and
not the main building nor any of its halls.”
The concession plan is said to be the product of a
recommendation by a committee comprising the Federal
Ministry of Works, the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism,
the Lagos State Ministry of Infrastructure and Physical
Planning and the National Theatre, which was set up at the
behest of former Minister of Tourism, Culture and National
Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, to revive the master plan
through public-private partnership.
Following the acceptance of the committee’s recommendation
and its approval by the Federal Executive Council, the
management of the National Theatre had embarked on a
search for local and international investors by organising road
shows in Lagos, London, Dubai and Johannesburg in 2014.
“The purpose was to make sure government did not have to
spend its money. We wanted individuals to do the spending
because of competing demands on the purse of the
government,” Yusuf told the gathering.
Also, he recalled that after the road show, about 11
consortiums initially expressed interest in the PPP project and
submitted their bids upon advertisment. They included CCECC
Nigeria Limited, Afrebay USA, Quippo Energy Nigeria Private
Limited, Neon Holdings Consortium, Travari Group, Causeway
Project Limited, Calzada Limited, RMB Westport and
Chrismicheals Limited.
All the companies, he added, only expressed their interest in
the fallow land and not the National Theatre.
