The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has insisted that despite the recent Boko Haram attacks, the Federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has effectively subdued the sect.
Mohammed said this while briefing newsmen after he was accompanied by representatives of the Lagos Police Command and Department of State Services, DSS, at the premises of the National Theatre shortly after inspecting facilities at the complex as part of the tour of the parastatals under his ministry.
While reacting to the recent attacks on Jiddari Polo, and Adawari Village, near Maiduguri, Borno State, where scores of people were killed between Sunday and Monday, he said “We have been vindicated because Bokom Haram have been decapitated compared to the past records.”
He also insisted that the frequency and magnitude of the attacks cannot be compared to what was witnessed in the country last year.
On the state of the National Theatre, he said “We are not averse to a Public-Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement that will add value to the iconic (National Art Theatre) complex. The process of selecting a preferred bidder under the PPP arrangement is currently under way.
“The National Theatre is a national monument and a tourist attraction. We will not allow it to go derelict or become a magnet for hoodlums. This monument is the pride of the nation, and it has always served as the point of convergence for Nigerians seeking fun and relaxation, especially during festive periods, and a centre for the promotion of arts and culture.”
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