Destitute To Be Kept Away from National Theatre

Some fun-seekers in Lagos have urged the management of the National Theatre, Iganmu,to prevent destitute taking up refuge around the national monument.

The fun seekers made the plea in Lagos on Saturday.

They observed that some destitute have converted the theatre to “resting place,” saying such act was not good for patronage and tourism.

A fun seeker, Mr Adekunle Aminu, said it has be come an eye-sore for Theatre goers to see some of these persons sleeping on the long chairs meant for visitors.

“Most times when I come here, I see people who are visibly homeless and have some mental challenges hanging around the theatre, especially in the afternoon.

“I wonder how they get there unchallenged and how the management has not seen any reason for preventing this regular sight.

“For God`s sake, National Theatre is a tourist centre and we cannot continue to complain that the theatre is not living to expectations if we continue to allow things like this,’’ he said.

Aminu urged the management to direct its staff to always monitor the surroundings of the theatre with a view to stop such intruders.

Similarly, Miss Loveth Idenhen, said she had seen some of the destitute around the theatre but thought they were labourers working at the theatre lawns.

“But the day I knew they were not, was when I sat under one of the trees at the theatre and I saw one of them making meaningless murmurs, approaching me.

“I quickly left that area lest I am attacked. This is not good for the theatre. The management should do something about it,“ she said.

Another fun seeker, Mrs Taiwo Alaka, said it was unfortunate that the management allowed the theatre to be in such “decayed” state.

She said aside the destitute, herdsmen too were breeding cattle around the theatre, leaving dung everywhere.

Alaka urged the management to do something about these issues in order that fun seekers could catch their fun without fear of harassment or danger.

Meanwhile, Mr Albert Johnson, has commended the state government for its initiative to revive the National Theatre.

He said the state government’s plans to host a continental movie award at the monument later in the year was laudable.

He, however, urged government to work with the management to ensure that undesirable elements were removed before and after the hosting of the award.