By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), has revealed the reopening of activities in its Arts & Crafts Village in Abuja after five years of closure .
The Director General NCAC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe made the announcement yesterday in Abuja, at a press briefing.
Peoples Daily recalled that, the Art and crafts village was shut down by DG NCAC following a host of populated miscreants, illegal and criminal activities happening in that environment.
Runsewe disclosed that, the shutdown of of the 250 shop in the village was also due to huge liabilities the council is indebted to Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria N8.9m; FCT water board, 13.6 and have paid 4m already and security.
He said the council was paying the debts so that the village would function again and become properly managed.
With the reopening of the new face of the village, the director general of NCAC, unveiled new proposed facilities for Nigerians to have best cultural market in Africa.
He said its a launch of a new marketing strategy which includes a toll gate, a night cultural market, a modern pharmacy which will be offering free blood sugar and hypertension tests to Nigerians, and visitors that comes to the market,photoshop and business center.
Others includes restaurants/ recreation and tradition food center, ATM gallery,Public toilets, police post, information center among other arts and crafts activities.
He said this will create 300 jobs as the village is reopening.
“180 of these jobs are direct employment, and 120 indirect employment.
There will also be skills acquisition/empowerment programmes for Nigerians, and a children’s excursion event”,.
According to him,the village space will have a unique selling point with a night cultural market 1st of it kind in Africa, Birthday shop and quarterly media interaction on the development at the center.
He emphasized that the new Arts and Crafts Village will be a product of a public private partnership (PPP).
Meanwhile, He noted that N300,000 will be paid annually per shop, with a N100,000 refundable/rollover maintenance fee.
He said most importantly there are rules and regulations, terms and conditions for all occupants of the village shop .
