'Tourism Ministry to supervise Nigeria showbiz'

The Federal Government has promised to move the supervision of the entertainment industry to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism,as part of measures to strengthen the activities of the sector. This was disclosed by President Goodluck Jonathan, at the interactive session with celebrities in the entertainment industry held at the Expo Hall of Eko Hotel, Lagos Sunday.  

The decision to move the coordination of the activities of the industry from the Ministry of Information to Tourism was at the instance of the entertainment stakeholders at the interactive session with the president.  According to President Jonathan, entertainment and sports are a unifying factor that has the capacity to further stimulate cohesion in the country.

GEJ Talk Show Segment | For supporting Creativity - GEJ and RMD at the Showbiz Interactive Session with President in Lagos.

He said, “Since the practitioners are requesting for the transfer of the industry from the Ministry of Information to Tourism, we will ensure that we move the entertainment industry to Culture and Tourism Ministry. 

"The entertainment industry has contributed significantly to the rebasing of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. The industry has created jobs for thousands of people, and that is why we will continue to support the players.

"In the next four years, my administration will continue to support the industry because of its significance to creating jobs." President Jonathan said.

He also added that Nollywood deserves the support of the government, because it has added value to the economy. According to him it has also helped to project the country to many parts of the world that hitherto knew little or nothing about the country.

President Jonathan said, “What we need is a proper structure that helps Nigerians artistes get the necessary return from their works. We will encourage major players in the private sector to build more cinemas to wage war against piracy. 

Nigerian artistes must be able to work with the government institutions to wage war against piracy. The industry is so big that Nigerian movie stars are respected abroad than politicians.”

According to Mr. Lambert Dike, a movie producer, Nigerian filmmakers must take advantage of some of the exotic tourist attractions in the country for their film locations to attract tourists into the country.

He added that there are so many productions in the entertainment and creative industry that has the capacity to attract millions of tourists into the country every year. 

While lauding the new initiative of the Federal Government to transfer the supervision of the entire entertainment industry to the Ministry of Tourism to supervise the activities of the industry, he said that the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) must take advantage of the global popularity of the Nigerian movie industry as a vehicle for the promotion and appreciation of Nigerian tourism.

He noted that Nollywood, if given the proper monitoring could be the country’s major export. According to him, based on the figure from the American Tourism Association, travel and tourism is one of America’s largest industries with Hollywood being a major.

Millions of tourists  from across the world visits Hollywood to see the famous Hollywood sign, 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Studios and Miramax/Dimension Films, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, MGM. The country always receive visitors from every parts of the world who comes each year to see Oscars Movie Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Emmys and other the film festivals. The country generated about $2.1 trillion in 2013, with $887.9 billion spent directly by domestic and international travellers that spurred an additional $1.2 trillion in other industries.

Reggae steps. President Jonathan responds to the sound of Reggae music performed by Righteous Man and Raski mono

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Tuface, KSA, thrills guest at Nigerian Breweries Distributors’ Award

It was a night of glitz, glamour and accolades when the old school met the new school at the Nigerian Breweries Plc Distributors Award.Foremost hip hop sensation, Tuface Idibia, popularly called Tubaba and Juju music maestro; King Sunny Ade thrilled guests to a mixture old and modern music experience. The event venue - the Eko Hotel and Suite – was a beehive of activity as guests savoured the “Partnering for Greatness” show.

The event which had in attendance senior management staff of the company, distributors across Nigeria, partners, families and well wisher was a night of interaction,  fun and dance where KSA and Tuface brought to stage their unique tunes likeJigijigi, kirakirakita, Aieyretieleya mi, disco system, outside, one love etc to entertain all at the event.

Their back up dancers and singers added colour to the event as the guests rocked the floor with the musicians. KSA, showed all that he is still relevant in the music scene after close to 50 years of active “service.” Tubaba also showed the stuff he was made of as his delectable dancers became the cynosure of the glittering night.

The highpoint of the 2015 award was the announcement of the IfeomaChukwuka Nigeria Limited as the champion of the distributors’. The company, having sold the required cases of Nigerian Breweries products, also emerged the best distributor back to back having won the same award last year in the National Champions Award category.Same as last year, Ken Maduakor Nigeria Limited was the first runner up while Magulf Global Enterprises Nigeria Limited clinched the second runner up. 

For their commendable performances and efforts, IfeomaChukwuka went home with a trophy and a brand new Mercedes Diesel Truck to further enhance their business. Ken Maduakor and Magulf Enterprises went home with a Mitsubishi Canter Truck and trophies each.

After rocking the dance floor, Managing Director of IfeomaCkukwuka Nigeria Limited, Dame Joy Igwe - who also won six other awards that same night - revealed the secret behind the success of her sales: “I feel so happy to have won seven awards especially the National award. Focus and determination is the secret. For us, winning is a lifestyle and we will continue to work hard. I will also like to Commend Nigerian Breweries Plc for their support and encouragement always.

“I make bold to say they are the best company to work with in Nigeria because they provide everything you need to succeed. So with such a company behind you, why won’t you succeed? They encourage us to do more every year and we hope to win again next year. We are growing as Nigerian Breweries is growing. We thank God for that.”

Speaking prior to the presentation of the awards, Sales Director of Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Hubert Eze, affirmed that partnership with key distributors and transporter is a major factor in the company’s success story which has also contributed to growth in sales volume. He stated that the merger with Consolidated Breweries Limited has further strengthened the company’s business.

“The theme of this year’s distributors’ award is ‘Partnering for Progress.’ We are in it together – for a long time and not just to make profit. Despite the challenges in 2014, we recorded a growth in volume rolling out new brands and re-launching existing brands. We thank our key distributors for their support and all that have worked together for the success of the company.”

Mr. Eze motivated the distributors to continue to stock and the sell NB products as the company continue to expand its portfolio with products that consumers crave.

The Managing Director, Mr. NicolaasVervelde, who gave the overall scorecard of the company in 2014, appreciated the key distributors and transporters for their undaunted partnership during thick and thin. “In second half of 2014, the market was tougher but our partnership with key distributors made it possible that NB maintained its leadership position.”

He reminded the strategic partners that; “sometime last year we informed you of plans by Nigerian Breweries Plc to merge with Consolidated Breweries Plc. That merger was successfully completed in December 2014. Following this merger, the new Nigerian Breweries has become an enlarged company with extensive supply chain footprint and distribution infrastructure across the country. We now have 11 breweries spread across the country, 19 brands and 56 SKUs covering more consumer segments in our market. The combination of brands, customers, staff and products as well as the exchange of best practice would create opportunities for higher revenue growth for our company and your businesses.”

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Fire guts FineCoat paint factory in Lagos

The factory of Chemstar limited, maker of Fine Coat paints, which is located at Caaso bus stop in Alagbado off Abule-Egba, Lagos gut fire today( 3/11/2015).

According to an eye-witness, the fire started around 1pm at the company’s chemical store.

Hallmark metro was informed by a source that was at the scene of the incident that the men of the fire service made attempt to put out the fire but ran out supply.

 Another eyewitness also disclosed that the security operatives from Alakuko Police Station were at the scene of the incident to control the activities around the venue, in order to avoid breakdown of law and order. He however confirmed that the situation has led to a traffic gridlock around the scene.

Every effort to speak with the management of Chemstar limited, proved abortive as calls put to them could not connect.

At the period of filling this report, the fire has extended to other parts of the factory and there were fears that it could extend to residential buildings around the factory.

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Anxiety heightens over fate of National Arts Theatre

After much ado  over the status of  one of the country’s most-priced assets- National  Art Theatre, Orile Iganmu, indications have emerged over the weekend that the Federal Government may have finally withdrawn its planned sale of the theatre, allegedly over the pressure mounted by concerned stakeholders. OREDOLA ADEOLA, in this report, examines what may have been responsible for the new development. 

Last week, Chief Edem Duke, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, who is also the Supervising Minister of Information, disclosed that the National  Art Theatre, Orile Iganmu, Lagos State is not up for sale. But what has remained undisclosed is whether the theatre would be concessioned or not?

The Minister said that the national heritage cannot be toyed with. He however confirmed plans to transform the national monument into an entertainment city.
According to him, rather than selling the property, the vast expanse of land around the theatre will be converted into an entertainment hub for the benefit of stakeholders in the music, movie and other arts genres.

He said “The information that we are going to sell this iconic place is the handiwork of mischief makers. On the contrary, what this government plans to do is to change the status of this place into an entertainment city that will create a new vista of opportunities for Nigerian artists to fulfill their artistic talents. Just like we did with the Centenary Village, we are going to transform the theatre into a place Nigerians and Africans would be proud of.”

Stakeholders held strong belief that the recent announcement by the minister cannot be relied on, since he has not fully explained the controversy over the $40million  deal with Mulk Holdings, United Arab Emirates conglomerate. A deal which they said was meant to convert the property into a duty-free shopping centre in partnership with the Suzanne Group. It is secretly done despite the subsisting concessioning arrangement with the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE.

It would be recalled that the attempt to sale the theatre first emerged in 2001. President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration was forced to withdraw the decision after it was greeted with a massive protest by stakeholders , when it served notice of its intent to privatize the monument the Bureau of Public Enterprise.

The 38-year old theatre is a convergence point for the stakeholders in the artistic and cultural sector - visual artists, dancers and actors. It was established through decree with the sole responsibility of showcasing the nation’s rich cultural heritage internationally and locally, a parastatal, the National Troupe of Nigeria is the soul of the National Theatre.

The monumental edifice was completed in 1976 during the military regime of Olusegun Obasanjo, in preparation for the 2nd World Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977. Its exterior is shaped like a military hat, with a capacity of 5500-seater main hall and a collapsible stage. The edifice has two 700/800 capacity cinema halls, both of which are equipped with facilities for simultaneous translation in13 languages.

Based on the information made available to our Correspondent, through an authoritative source from the ministry, the ministry had placed a request for the Expression of Interest(EoI), for the concession in line with the masterplan  on the Nigeria Entertainment City through Public Private Partnership (PPP) in accordance with the ICRC Act 2005 and National Policy on Public Private Partnership. It was further revealed that seven companies including CCECC Nigeria, Calzada, Chrismichaels, Resilient Africa, Quippo Energy Nigeria Private Limited, RMB Westports and Neon Holding Consortium, pre-qualified for the concession agreement.

The source, disclosed that the project will ensure the design, finance, build operate and transfer the property into a five star hotel, international standard shopping Mall and Multi level car park, office building, land and water recreation park.

Meanwhile in another report sourced from GulfAfrica Review, published in December 10, 2014, Chief Edem Duke, was reported to have sold the theatre to Mulk Holdings, United Arab Emirates conglomerate with interests in retail sector and other businesses, in a $40million deal to convert the facility into a shopping mall. This deliberate decision was kept from the local media due to the difficulty and protest that had greeted previous move to sell the property.

The Gulf Africa report further says that Mulk Holdings, announced its entry into the retail sector in West Africa through a $40m joint venture with the Suzanne Group, to develop theatre into a duty-free shopping centre. It quoted Mr. Kabir Yaradua, Chief Executive Officer of the National theatre as saying “The interior of the National Theatre will be redesigned and renovated into a modern duty-free and retail shopping mall. The project will convert approximately 30,000m2 of the existing space in two 15,000m2 phases. These developments will kick-start a master re-development programme for this area.”
It also quoted Mr Shaji Ul Mulk, chairman, Mulk Holdings, as saying that the project was expected to be completed in 2016. Adding that Mulk Holdings will be adopting aggressive strategies to expand its core business, involving serious investment into existing businesses and diversification into sustainable industries,”

According to Macford Okwara, a stakeholder in the sector, the BPE commenced the concession transaction of the theatre in 2001, an action that led to the pre-qualification Jadeas Trust Consortium, and Lloyd Anderson Investment Limited, that were the concessionaires. The transaction was later stalled in January 2003, after the concessionaires conducted data room and physical due diligence of the property, due to the inability of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to provide relevant documents of the edifice.

In 2006 BPE also advertise the property for EoI, during which eight consortia responded. In 2007 Infrastructica Consortium emerged as the Preferred Bidder with a bid price of ₦35, 560, 000,000 and Jadeas Trust Limited as the Reserved Bidder with an offer of ₦28, 902,948,593.23.

Following the approval of the results of the financial bid by the NCP, an offer letter was sent to the Preferred Bidder on May 18, 2007 and a timetable to complete the concession agreement by May 28, 2007 was drawn. The offer was however terminated because the preferred bidder failed to meet the terms of the offer. Consequently, the Jadeas Trust , that emerged as the reserved Bidder, was thereafter invited for negotiation to pay for the enterprise but the process was later stalled by the government.

In January 22, 2013, the BPE later resumed the transaction when it invited Jadeas Trust Consortium, with the offer of N28,902,948,593.23 to present a revised technical and financial proposal. The N28.9 billion bid offer, which was not yet concluded as it will form part of the renegotiation with Jedeas Trust, comprises both Entry fee and yearly lease fees to be paid over a 35-year period. This is different from the investment capital to be based on approved Post Concession Business Development Plan from which the Concessionaire is to recoup its investment and return the enterprise to the Government after 35 years in the event that the concession is not renewed.

The NCP, in line with its practice to carry along ministries whose enterprises are being privatized/concession, also approved that the BPE should invite the Minister of Tourism & Culture to participate in the NCP’s technical sub-committee that will evaluate the proposal of Jadeas Trust.

Jadeas Trust Consortium has submitted a revised Technical and Financial proposal to BPE. In accordance with NCP’s decision, the BPE has written the Ministry and the Management of National Theatre to send two nominees each to join the evaluation committee that will assess Jadeas Trust Consortium’s Technical and Financial proposal.

The BPE is awaiting the response of both the Ministry and Management of National Theatre for the evaluation of the Technical and Financial proposal to begin in earnest. The result of the evaluation team will be presented first to the Technical Committee of NCP for consideration before the committee presents its recommendations to the NCP for approval or further directive.

While the Jadeas Trust bid is still waiting to be concluded, the undisclosed transaction with the new UAE conglomerate is being kept away from public glare. This has become a major source of concern to stakeholders in the sector. Although most of them identified that the theatre must be positioned for sustaining growth of the industry possibly through privatization, they are of the view that the government must be transparent in its dealing. Concerned citizens have queried the intent of the minister, wondering how long it would continue to mask the deal from public glare.

 According to a member of the National Troupe, Thompson Babatunde, this is a country where government has no respect for the culture and tradition of its people. He said “The minister has refused to demonstrate commitment to developing the sector. The National troupe is not comfortable with the plan to sale the national heritage. This is where we promote our trade, it is better if they are transparent with any plan to offer it to concessioners.” he said.  

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Wildlife, an untapped tourism product in Nigeria

Analysts in the tourism industry have suggested that Nigeria with its expansive landscapes and formidable wild life, is still far behind other African countries using wildlife to drive its tourism earnings. OREDOLA ADEOLA in this report explores the opportunities that abound in the country  

There is no doubt that Nigeria has a vast ecosystem that offers an amazing abundance of plants and animals that ordinarily should act as catalyst for a huge inbound and out bound tourism in the country, considering the scenic landscapes of the country's dense jungle of the rainforests, low lying savannah parks and sloping river valleys (wetlands), which is ranked among the continent’s best reserves. Tourism analysts are of the view that the country will continue to lose huge revenues if these natural resources are not converted into a tourism product that could drive tourists into the country. 

Few years back, Nigeria was reputed as a favourite destination for wildlife in view of its fauna (animals living in the country and its surrounding seas and islands.). According to experts,  the country was a major destination to many of the world's best loved and most fascinating animals, as well as to some of its most endangered species, with about 290 species of mammals and 940 species of birds some of which have been lost to poachers, mismanagement and land speculators.

While expressing disappointment over the passive attitude of the government towards the promotion of the various national parks in the country, the experts called for a review of the tourism sector to look into the country’s potentials created by investment in wildlife. It is also established that the key to transforming these gifts of nature to mediums for revenue generation depend on the ability to prioritise the tourism product, protect the environment in which wildlife thrive, and empowering those charged with protection of the various reserves.

According to a safari expert, the prices of the holidays for a visit to a safari range from N864,000 (£2,700) to N1.2 million (£4,000) for a total of seven days in the bush with wildlife in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. The enthusiast believes that these are prices worth paying considering the leisure and excitement that comes with it. He said that it is disturbing that presently, Nigeria is not listed a one of the best safaris in Africa despite the huge revenue.   

Some of the game reserves and zoos in the country, according to experts, are near extinction due to poor management and lack of commitment by successive government to exploring the potentials in the tourism sub sector. They argued that the facilities have been abandoned by the government, leaving the animals at the mercies of poachers and land speculators.

Some of the country’s favourite reserves include Port Harcourt zoological garden, University of Ibadan Zoological garden, Yankari Game reserve, Bauchi, Jos Zoo & Wildlife Park, Cross River National Park and the old Oyo national park, Ibadan.

 The Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi, is arguably the best park for observing wildlife. Some of the animals that can found at the reserve include  Buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, hyenas, leopards, baboons, elephants and lions

The Cross River National Park is touted as Nigeria’s last great rainforest reserve. It is another park that experts say has the capacity to draw tourists. Sitting on an area of about 4000sq km, it is a moist tropical rainforest ecosystem in the north and central parts, and mosaic vegetation on the Obudu Plateau. It has a large community of gorillas which can be tracked.

The Gashaka-Gumti National Park is the largest and most scenic reserve in the country. It is located in the mountainous region of north-eastern Nigeria adjacent to the international border with Cameroon, and immediately to the north of the Mambilla Plateau. The Gashaka section of the park has undulating mountain terrains, excellent for mountaineering and cave exploration. Within it is the highest point in Nigeria the “Chappal Waddi”, which literally means “the mountain of death” standing at an altitude of 2,400 meters’ above sea level. The forests in Chappal Waddi, Chappal Hendu, Chappal Yumti, and other mountains in this area are primate strongholds, with a large population of various monkeys and apes.

The Okomu National Park, although touted as the smallest of the national parks in the country which is about an hour’s drive from Benin City, Edo State, has a wide variety of wildlife, including the white-throated monkey which is one of the rarest monkeys in the world. Other animals found in the park include forest elephants, buffaloes, chimpanzees, leopards and bush babies.

The University of Ibadan Zoo, established in 1948 was designed primarily to support teaching and research in the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science. As animal collection grew in number, it became a full fledged Zoo in 1974. It welcomes a large number of visitors, who are from all walks of life, from far and near every year. Apart from displaying animals for teaching, research and the entertainment of patrons, the Zoo is for the conservation of endangered species to save them from extinction. The Garden is home to a wide array of animals comprising mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

According to a wildlifer, Mr. Wale Pearce, the proliferation of subsistence farms and large-scale timber harvesting portend serious dangers to native wildlife, particularly the African elephant and the extremely rare Cross River gorilla. He said that Gorillas and elephants need large, continuous ranges to survive. He said “The challenges facing the park are that the rural communities living within some of the national parks have expanded considerably putting intense pressure on the park’s resources,” he said.

He added that some of the protected areas are also becoming ever more isolated, with few resources and poorly trained staff in place to encourage sustainable management. Adding that in some areas, the “bushmeat” trade is a pressing threat, as demand increases to supply commercial markets. “A general lack of governance and awareness of conservation issues in communities surrounding protected areas also presents a major obstacle,” he lamented.

Ms. Sola Alamutu, Executive Director of Children and the Environment, CATE, said “Nigerians generally do not value wildlife. Most people see them as 'bush meat' to be eaten. During the research for my book on protection of birds and other wildlife at one of the game reserves in Cross River State, the Minister of Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, after a tour of the premises was quoted as saying, "these animals are very nice, but I feel that I would enjoy them better if they were in my pot."

She disclosed that there cannot be meaningful respect for wildlife nor effort towards proper domestic tourism with administrator like that.

Mr Ikechi Uko, convener Akwaaba Travels Market, said “It is not true that Nigeria wildlife is near extinction. As a nation, we have not given wildlife a lot of tourism attention. The national parks are there waiting for patronage but the tourism dots are not connected. Wildlife safari is almost unknown as a product in Nigeria. For investors they need a proper business plan that can work in our kind of environment. Government needs to decide what exactly it wants to do with the parks with respect to tourism.”

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