The Bankers’ Committee has announced the completion of the renovation and upgrading of facilities at the National Theatre in Lagos.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, it was revealed that the renovation covered different spaces, including the 4,000-seater main bowl, over 3,000-seater banquet hall, exhibition halls, cinemas, VIP spaces, actors’ changing rooms, industrial kitchen, over 300 new toilet cubicles, clinic, fire station, lobbies within the four National Theatre entrances and extensive roof repairs.
The renovation of the national landmark commenced in July 2021, following approval by the Federal Government and the subsequent handover of the national edifice to the Bankers’ Committee.
The committee embarked on the renovation to unlock the potential in the creative sector for the teeming population of Nigerian youth.
Speaking during a tour of the monument in Lagos on Wednesday, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Group, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, who represented the Bankers’ Committee, disclosed that at the commencement of the project, “We were shocked at the scale of the work that needed to be done, but we were also impressed by the possibilities that it represented. This is one of the largest scaled projects of its kind anywhere on the continent”.
“The renovation of the National Theatre by the Bankers Committee showcases what is possible with the power of patriotism and collective responsibility on the part of the private sector in partnering with the Federal and Lagos state governments, to reignite hope and revive some of our national monuments and assets,” Suleiman affirmed.
The facilities were upgraded to match the best standards of theatre and performance in the world.
The upgrading includes the replacement of the entire heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system; the upgrade of the fire safety standards, and power, replacement of the water supply and sewage systems, and the upgrading of interior design with the installations of the audio-video lighting world stage engineering system, 17 passenger lifts.
The committee also installed solar power, new furniture for spaces and restoration of artworks, including those on the internal wall panels and the building façade.
