MINISTER of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, has debunked claims that the planned National Theatre in Calabar, Cross River will cost N700 million, disclosing that only N70 million was provided for the project in the 2012 budget
He said: "The second National Theatre is now a child of an act, it is now law, whether it was originated by one person or another, has become irrelevant. It is a project that the Federal Government has ratified and so it has to be done. How can we get apologetic that the second National Theatre will be sited in Calabar."
Duke however said that there was ongoing effort to ensure private sector participation in the National Theatre, Lagos, to ensure that the National Theatre was commercially viable.
This, he said, necessitated the setting up of a committee, inter-ministry, that has submitted its report, which was before President Goodluck Jonathan and once the President gives its consent, the ministry would move for expression of interest from the public.
