Federal Gov’t Targets Completion Of National Library In 20 Months

Also, the federal government has set a target of 20 to 21 months to complete work on the ongoing national library project.

Minister of Education Tahir Mammam stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, during a tour of the project as part of his first public engagement.

The library project was awarded in 2006 to Messes Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) and since then the project has suffered setbacks due to the inability of various administrations to release enough funds for its completion.

LEADERSHIP reports that over 17 years after the federal government awarded a contract to build the national library, more than N50 billion is now needed to complete the project.

The edifice which is located at plot 35 of the Central Business District in Abuja, has been a worry to many stakeholders in the education sector given the incongruous state of the current rented apartment of the office.

It consists of eleven floors, consisting of two basement floors, a ground floor, and eight upper floors as well as a perimeter fence, internal roads and others.

Recently, the government approved the take-over and financing of the multi-billion library edifice by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

However, LEADERSHIP observed during the tour that there had not been any sign of progress at the site so far.

But the Minister, who was accompanied by a delegation of education stakeholders emphasised that the project is very important to Nigeria and needs to be completed in a short period.

He said President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has come to deliver his promises and the national library is one of the necessary things to accomplish.

“So, the decision is that we have a president who does not tolerate uncompleted projects anywhere. He is determined to deliver on what we bring progress and development and the National Library is one of the major edifices anywhere in the world.

“The decision is that everyone involved must come back to the site.

“There are some issues here and there but the project will be completed in about twenty to twenty-one months,” he added.