‘Worrying’ Genesis Cinema closure shrouded in mystery

One of the Nigeria’s leading cinema developers and operators of multiplex cinemas in Nigeria, Genesis Cinemas, has closed down its The Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki location, Freelanews can report.

In what first began as a whisper is starting to become a deafening wave of sound when movie goers began wondering the reason the ever bursting cinema has gone under lock and key for over three days now. And a quick check for showtimes drew a blank.

While many believed it could be a COVID-19 scare, a source, who is also close to the management of the cinema chain, that Freelanews spoke to allayed the fear and debunked the rumour that it was due to the dreaded virus.

“No COVID scare. And it is nothing movie goers should be worried about,” she said.

When pressed more as to why the cinema was closed, the source, who didn’t want her name in press, didn’t give further information.

“This is all I’m prepared to say. All 10 Genesis Cinemas locations across the country are open with 2 more locations coming up this year.

“Again, nothing to worry about,” she responded in what sounded like a tone of finality.

However, on a deep dug, Freelanews noticed interestingly on the company’s official website that the About Us section claimed that the cinema chain has 12 locations across Nigeria. This left us scratching our heads why the source mentioned just 10.

Genesis Cinemas is the leading cinema chain of West Africa with 12 locations, 47 screens and over 4,700 seats in operation across Nigeria. GC is part of the Genesis Group, a Nigerian based conglomerate established in 1991 with its key focus on hospitality and entertainment with diverse interests in Restaurants, Hotels, Industrial Catering, Cinemas, Family Entertainment Centres and Facility Management. (Quoted from https://genesiscinemas.com/)

Freelanews can’t help but wondered if there was another location down aside The Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki location that was closed.

The connect, however, left an assuring message though.

“Once we re-open, it will be on our website. Thank you for your concern,” she said.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.