The Senate has called on the Federal Government to immediately stop the planned sale of Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) and National Theatre both located in Lagos, saying that such structures should be preserved as national monuments and developed as viable tourist attraction for the country.
The Senate also mandated its Committee on Culture and Tourism to identify other buildings and sites that should be declared as national monuments, and report back in one month.
Senator Fatimat Raji-Rasaki (PDP, Ekiti), who brought up the conversation on the proposed sale of national assets to finance the 2018 budget through a motion on Tuesday noted that Tafawa Balewa Square represents the land mark on which Nigeria got her independence on the 1st of October, 1960.
She further explained that the National Theatre was specifically built to host the 2nd Black African Art Festival named the Festival of Art and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977, where all black people across the globe gathered to celebrate the uniqueness of the Black race.
“These institutions and structures occupy a historical landmark and serve as a symbol of our nationhood, desires and attainment,” Raji-Raski said.
She continued: “Nowhere in the world did any nation dispose of the symbols of its nationhood and attainment. The United States of America cherished its attainment of independence as the structures relating to its independence are under the national park service as monuments to cherish and behold. They are all places of tourist attraction”
Senator Raji-Rasaki then proposed that the Tafawa Balewa Square and the National Theatre be declared as national monuments including the state House (Presidential Lodge) Marina, Lagos.
Other senators who contributed to the debate maintained that the two structures hold great historical, cultural, economic value and hence, should not be tempered with.
According to Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna), “these monuments are parts of our soul as they part of our history. Those who wish to buy such properties are at liberty to build their own and not auction such a very important aspect of our history.”
Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi) submitted that the proposed sale is an attempt to “re-write” the history of the country. He also alleged that previous privatised institutions were sold for less than 10% of their value to “friends and cronies of those in power.”
He added that “It is wicked for us to sell our cultural and historical heritage. May it not be recorded in history that it was under our watch that the National Theatre and Tafawa Balewa Square were sold.”
Furthermore, Senator Dino Melaye threatened to “lead Nigerians on the streets to vehemently resist” the sale of both structures, if the government proceeds with its plan.”
Senator Attai Aidoko (APC, Kogi) in his contribution said that the country is “not making sense” with the proposed sales of historical assets and suggested that those advising the government on such moves should be fished out.