The Federal Government is willing to accept private investment in the National Theatre Lagos, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Chief Edem Duke has said.

Chief Duke, who spoke in Lagos shortly after inspecting neglected facilities at the 35-year national monument that is fast becoming a national shame, said government has realised it cannot fund the turnaround of the National Theater thus, investors and stakeholders can now intervene.

'It is not that government hasn't expended resources on the National Theatre in the past 35 years since 1977 when it was launched but because of competing demands for government's lean resources, government hasn't been able to provide enough for the National Theatre in the past one decade," he said.

'We call on investors all over the world that the National Theatre is now ready for intervention by investors and stakeholders in culture and tourism,' he added.

'I am a bit a flustered when I saw that the National Theatre Lagos has become a den for all kinds of unholy activities, the environment completely compromised and has become a habitat for hoodlums and undesirable elements,' he lamented.

The minister also noted that the "National Theatre and its surroundings, provides perhaps the most valuable real estate asset in Nigeria especially in Lagos. 'We are therefore in dire need for the development of not just the National Theatre but ancillary facilities in leisure, entertainment and shopping."

He said as Nigeria considers celebrating its 100 years anniversary, the National Theatre revival should be part of the effort.

At the celebration of Nigeria's 100-year in another 24 months, the time to address the dilapidation of the national Theatre is now. If we don't do it, it would be a poor reflection of our national ethos," he noted.

In his remarks, the General Manager, National Theatre Mr. Kabiru Yusuf explained that the master plan of the National Theatre provides for a Four Star hotel, restaurants, offices, shopping malls. But right now we have only the theatre. He also called for private sector intervention.