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Despite repeated government promises to complete the national library project, work has been stalled for over 18 years while the facility housing the current library continues to deteriorate.
The library, located at Plot 35, Cadastral Business District in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was initially awarded to Reynolds Construction Company in 2006 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The project, valued at N8.9 billion, was expected to be completed within four years.
LEADERSHIP reports that today marks over 18 years since the library project was awarded, yet there are no visible signs of progress toward its completion. Despite the passing of nearly two decades, the project remains stalled, with no noticeable progress in sight.
After failing to complete the project, the federal government re-awarded it in March 2010 with a 21-month timeline and at a cost of N49.6 billion. However, as of today, there has been no progress.
Our investigations revealed that the issues with the project’s funding range from exchange rate fluctuations to other variables, which have made it difficult for the previous administrations to renegotiate with contractors to complete the project.
Before he handed over power to President Bola Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the takeover and financing of the multi-billion library edifice by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
When Minister of Education Tahir Mamman assumed office in 2023, he promised to ensure the completion of the project by 2025.
Mamman had given assurance that the contractor in charge of the project would return to the site to deliver the national edifice for the good of the citizenry.
“This project is too vital for Nigerians, and we have not completed it for close to 20 years. We know the importance of a library, not to talk about a national library. So, the decision is that everyone involved must return to the site.
“There are some issues here and there, but the project will be completed in about 21 months. We are urging the construction company to deliver the project because we’ve dragged it too long and the project is too important to be dragged further.
“So, whatever is the obstacle in the project, we are determined to go over it,” the Minister had said a year ago.
However, our reporter who visited the site recently discovered that there had not been any sign of progress at the site so far, while a visit to the building accommodating the library currently is nothing to write home about.
The abandonment of the project has sparked widespread calls among students and academics, urging its swift completion to benefit present and future generations.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP, Nigerian students, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and various stakeholders, called for immediate action to complete the long-delayed national library project. It lamented that the project had been stalled for 18 years despite numerous promises from the government.
Speaking on behalf of the association, NANS spokesperson, Comrade Gundu Mimidoo Joy lamented that the project, once a beacon of hope for Nigerian scholars, now stands as a symbol of gross neglect and disregard for the education sector.
“Students see this project as critical to their academic development and access to quality resources. Its suspension represents a failure on the part of the government to prioritise education, and this abandonment exacerbates the already existing infrastructural challenges in schools across the nation.
“Without access to such a vital facility, students find it increasingly difficult to compete globally in academic research and scholarship. NANS demands action on this critical issue,” she said.
She added that Nigerian students view the abandonment of the national library project as a significant issue, asserting that libraries are essential in providing up-to-date information, research materials, and academic resources necessary for intellectual growth.
According to her, many students already need more modern educational materials in their institutions, and the uncompleted national library was expected to alleviate these problems.
“In an age of information technology, the absence of a national library that can serve as a digital hub is detrimental to students’ academic progress. NANS deems the abandonment of this project as emblematic of the broader issues of underfunding and neglect of the Nigerian education system.
“We demand the federal government address this failure and fulfil its promises to Nigerian students.”
She emphasised the far-reaching benefits of completing the national library project for students and the wider academic community.
She said that the completion of the project would give students access to vast, modern resources, books, journals, research papers, and digital archives. This, she said, would drastically improve the quality of academic work and research across Nigerian universities and institutions.
“A state-of-the-art national library would be a hub for academic research and collaboration, allowing students, educators, and scholars to engage in meaningful intellectual exchange. Such a space is essential for fostering innovation and promoting cutting-edge research.
“It also enhances global competitiveness: A national library equipped with world-class information and research tools would empower Nigerian students to compete on an equal footing with their counterparts globally. This would narrow the educational gap and make Nigerian graduates more marketable internationally.
It also supports lifelong learning. Beyond the immediate benefits for students, a completed national library would serve as a valuable resource for the entire Nigerian public, encouraging lifelong learning, professional development, and the overall intellectual advancement of society,” she said.
The student body noted that the project is vital to students and has the potential to transform Nigeria’s academic landscape.
“The federal government must act now to fulfil its responsibility to the nation’s future leaders by providing them with the resources they need to excel,” she added.
For her part, Gloria Joseph, an educationist, said it is imperative that the federal government prioritise the completion of the National Library to ensure equitable access to information for all citizens.
She said, “In an era of rapid technological advancement, the role of libraries in facilitating digital and information literacy cannot be overstated.
“The National Library project represents a crucial investment in bridging the digital divide and empowering individuals with the skills they need to thrive in the digital age.”
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