Fun seekers express disappointment over cancellation of activities at National Theatre

Some fun seekers have expressed disappointment over the cancellation of film shows and other activities at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, due to the second wave of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic.

Some of the fun seekers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos, urged the management to inform the public of the cancellation for the sake of fun seekers who reside far away.

They also appealed to the management of the theatre to upgrade the facilities in the complex to bring them up-to-date.

Mr Akeem Akanbi, an educationist, who has been patronising the theatre for years, said he was surprised to meet the place quiet, adding that the development would discourage many families from patronising the facility in future.

“I was surprised when everywhere was quiet because I had thought there was going to be a lot of activities for the new year which made me to bring my family.

“I am not really happy. I had planned to spend the entire day here with my family but I have to leave sooner than I had anticipated,’’ he said.

He, however, said he would not blame the government for the development as it was striving to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Mrs Iyabo Adeoye, another fun seeker, said that the theatre was devoid of activities, pointing out that all she and her family did was to snap some pictures with a horse since there was no film show.

Mrs Emily Shobiye, a fashion designer who came with her family, expressed disappointment over the non-activity at the theatre.

Some of the traders within the theatre decried the low patronage and said they had good sales on Jan. 1 2020 than in Jan. 1 2021 because the coronavirus pandemic had not surfaced a year ago.

Mrs Bunmi Olabanji, petty trader, attributed the low sales to the cancellation of activities at the theatre due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Olabanji said that the coronavirus pandemic had kept many families from visiting the theatre.

Mrs Esther Adeiza , the Assistant Director, Planning Research & Statistics at National Theatre told NAN that the management decided to cancel all programmes scheduled for today due to the second wave of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic.

“Programmes were slated for today (Friday) but the Chief Executive Officer directed that all activities be stopped to stem the spread of the virus.

“I pray that the pandemic is addressed before Easter so that live will come back to this place.

“We have also instructed the gatemen not to allow anybody come into the theatre without a nose mask,’’she said.