The Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to the non sale of the
National Theatre, Tafawa Balewa Square and other national monuments.
National Theatre, Tafawa Balewa Square and other national monuments.
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| Nigerian Senate |
This is sequel to the adoption of the report of its Committee on Culture and Tourism at plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the report, the chairman of the committee, Sen. Fatimat
Raji-Rasaki said the committee was instructed to examine monuments
across the country and report back.
Raji-Rasaki said the committee was instructed to examine monuments
across the country and report back.
According to her, the committee traveled to Lagos and other parts of
the country to assess the monuments and recommends that, given their
historic and monetary value, they should not be disposed of.
the country to assess the monuments and recommends that, given their
historic and monetary value, they should not be disposed of.
The chairman further said the committee came to a conclusion that
some other monuments, which were hitherto not recognised as national
monuments should be given that status.
some other monuments, which were hitherto not recognised as national
monuments should be given that status.
“Senate debated motion on proposed sale of the National Theatre and
Tafawa Balewa Square and mandated the committee to work on it and report back.
Tafawa Balewa Square and mandated the committee to work on it and report back.
“This followed the motion I moved on Dec. 20, 2017 on Federal Government’s plan to sell the monuments.
“The Tafawa Balewa Square was instrumental to our history and the
National Theatre was built for all blacks to gather to
celebrate the uniqueness of the black race.
National Theatre was built for all blacks to gather to
celebrate the uniqueness of the black race.
“The committee traveled to all the locations of all the monuments
across the country and has concluded work on 32 edifices, eight natural
sites and four technological edifices,” she said.
across the country and has concluded work on 32 edifices, eight natural
sites and four technological edifices,” she said.
Contributing, Sen. Shehu Sani (PRP-Kaduna), said the monuments were important to Nigeria’s history and should not be sold off.
He added that selling them off would be a great mistake as the
historic identity attached to them would be erased, while generations to
come would not have any sense of Nigeria’s history.
historic identity attached to them would be erased, while generations to
come would not have any sense of Nigeria’s history.
“When we travel to other countries we visit historic monuments, and adding to revenue generation in those countries.
“It therefore behoves on us to keep ours for visitors to have where to
visit and for generations unborn to have a sense of our history.
visit and for generations unborn to have a sense of our history.
“I visited Benin Republic monuments and the Slave Castle in Ghana
among other countries and I saw how much they generate from them,”he
said.
among other countries and I saw how much they generate from them,”he
said.
The lawmaker urged parents to take their wards to historic places to
teach them the country’s history rather than just visiting eateries and
amusement parks.
teach them the country’s history rather than just visiting eateries and
amusement parks.
He advocated that rather than selling them, the country should find a way of funding and maintaining them.
Sen. Yusuf Yusuf (APC-Taraba) said since the position of the senate is
not to sell them, workable strategies needed to be evolved to manage
them properly.
not to sell them, workable strategies needed to be evolved to manage
them properly.
“Selling may not be the best option but what do we do. I hear the square is under concession but is not well managed,” he said.
In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu,
who presided over plenary, said the monuments should be maintained
rather than being sold off.
who presided over plenary, said the monuments should be maintained
rather than being sold off.
“We need to maintain them and try a structured concession. There is
no gainsaying the fact that that monuments should be maintained to be
part of our history.
no gainsaying the fact that that monuments should be maintained to be
part of our history.
“Some other ones should be identified in the course of time and as we
evolve as a country to be named as national monuments,” he said.
evolve as a country to be named as national monuments,” he said.
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