PLATEAU NOW OWNS A FILM CITY
Governor of Plateau State, Chief Michael Botmang, has endorsed the establishment of the proposed Plateau Film City which is scheduled to take off soon.
The governor made this known recently when the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Film Corporation, Mr. Afolabi Adesanya, paid him a courtesy visit in the Government House, Rayfield Jos.
Receiving Adesanya in his office at Rayfield, Jos, Chief Botmang said that Plateau State government would rise to the challenges of ensuring that the state maintains its lead in the tourism industry in Nigeria by partnering with relevant government agencies, entrepreneurs and private organizations with viable projects.
The Proposed Plateau Film City, according to Chief Botmang, is a worthwhile venture which will assist in the repositioning drive embarked upon by his government to the benefit of all.
Briefing Chief Botmang on the proposed Film City project which a 3,000 hectares of land that had already been acquired, Adesanya said, with the coming on stream of the project, the prayers of Motion Picture practitioners and by extension potential investors in the tourism industry would have been answered.
Adesanya, who traced the history and the Plateau Film City to May 2005, said would be investors have continuously been in touch with the NFC on when the project would commence, especially since various risk assessment exercises have been carried out to ensure viability.
Mr. Adesanya, MD, NFC presenting his brief on the Plateau Film City Project the Plateau Film City, according to the NFC boss, will be driven by two special purpose vehicles, including the Plateau Film City Limited and Plateau Film City Development Limited.
According to Adesanya, part of the plan is to get the Film City project started and have the governor visit the Nigerian Film Corporation, the National Film Institute and the Film City located in the Miango area of the state. The establishment of a project office, the signing of the agreement and a memorandum between the Plateau State government, the NFC and the consultants; Pratix Consulting, within the next four weeks was also highlighted as measures to having the project fully started.
The governor, receiving the Plateau Film City project documents from Mr. Adesanya,
reaffirmed the willingness of the Plateau State government to continue to partner NFC, on projects which are beneficial to the people of the state among which is the Plateau Film City.
He commended Adesanya for the giant strides being recorded by the NFC lately and stated that the government and people of the state were grateful to the Federal Government for having the headquaters of Nigerian Film Corporation sited in Jos.
Michael Botmang, who was elated at the viability of the project, promised to endorse tangible requests in respect of the project, and assured that the necessary machinery should be put in place to kick-start activities that will facilitate early take off of the project.
In his presentation, the consultant to the project and Managing Director of Pratix Consulting Limited, Mr. John Oluwagbemiga, said that the Plateau Film City project would be executed in phases.
According to him, the city will be a multi-purpose film development and production centre. Funding for the project, according to the consultant, will be through public and private partnership initiative.
According to Mr. Oluwagbemiga, the choice of Jos, the Plateau State capital for the project is owing to the climatic advantages for the film production.
The concept of the Plateau Film City is to promote diversification and encourage multiple streams of income into the Nigerian economy. Similarly, the target of the project will be the domestic and regional film industry, including advertising agencies. It will also have facilities for meetings, conferences and exhibition. In a nutshell, it will provide a ready leisure destination, both for Nigeria and the global tourist market.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government committee on the development of film villages, along with other film committees, last December submitted its report to the Federal Government.
The Information and Communications Minister, Mr. Frank Nweke (Jnr), who received the report, announced that the nation was in dire need of structures that will promote the development of the Nigerian motion picture industry. The private sector, the minister said, would be encouraged to engage in direct investment within the sector as the Federal Government was poised to ensuring that the Nigerian motion picture industry sustains its enviable status with the International Film Industry.