*Assures President Tinubu Has Political Will To Move Project Forward
Despite the inability of past administrations to complete the gigantic National Library building project in Abuja since year 2006, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday assured that President Bola Tinubu has the political will to continue the project.
He said that money has been set aside for the contractor to move to site latest by June 2025.
But the Minister disclosed that the government is adopting an innovative method of completing the project in phases.
Speaking with journalists at the end of inspecting the building project, Dr. Alausa said "Let me just go back in history. We had three national monuments that was planned for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. We have the National Mosque, the National Ecumenical Center and the National Library. Ironically, today, almost 40 years after, National Mosque has been completed, the Ecumenical center has been completed.
"We're still battling to complete the National Library. National Library is part of human capital development... Today, we have the political will to move this forward, we have a president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that believes so much in human capital development of the country.
"The president believes so much in the capabilities of our youth, the future of our duty and the abilities to move this country forward, and that's why the President is committed to moving this project forward. As you said, it was conceived but designed in 1981 and construction started in 2006 and it was initially meant to be completed in 2008. Work stopped at this site 2012.
"So if you count that, 15 years ago, about 15 years ago, nothing has been done on the site. I chronicle those dates to really point out the care, the attention that President Bola Tinubu places on the present times in our country and the future of our country. This President is developing every sector, every single sector of our economy, like no other president has done before."
The Minister said the President should be commended for his innovative agenda to move Nigeria forward.
On funding for the project, Dr Alausa said "I clearly understand your question. You said Tetfund and UBEC can complete this project. TETFund has it's primary mandate. UBEC has its primary mandate. UBEC is providing intervention for our foundational level. Now, TETFund addresses funding in our tertiary institution, and I can tell you today, President has directed TETFund to put money aside, certain percentage of their budget to start.
"My predecessor was here one year ago, you are very correct. My predecessor, Prof Tahir did everything possible for us to get to this point. We have some money now to move back to site, we have dedicated fund from TETFund to move back to site. And I've spoken to the consultants and the contractors that we have a deadline of moving back to site on or before June of this year, 2025."he stated
When asked to give a specific date for completion of the project, he said "It's an enormous project with so many variations to this project. And I can tell you, even the quotation, if my memory is not failing me, the contractor quoted a few years ago to complete the project with about ninety something billion.
"We have a lot of other competing needs that we have to do today, completing the National Grid is a priority, and there are other priorities. Even if we have to go back to do the costing, it will go into hundreds of billions.
"But what we will now do is to be innovative in moving this project forward. We'll begin by finishing the basement level one, basement level two, the first floor and the second floor and the ground floor. I think we have enough fund, or reasonably enough fund to complete that.
"But we're still waiting for the final costing. Based on what the consultant will put together with regard to the bills of quantities, and then the contractor will come back to us with how much it will cost to do this level of construction.
"So what we're doing now, we're dividing it into phases. First phase will move to site on or before June of 2025, and let me repeat myself of what the first phase entails, basement level one, basement level two, ground floor, first floor and second floor, and all external work. We will finish all the perimeter, all the esthetic parts of this building.
"You saw the building, it looked so beautiful. And I have to commend the architect that put this together. This was designed in 1981. It's still meeting, 44 years after, it's still meeting the test of time. Beautiful building, it was futuristic designed, as a Nigerian, I'm very proud of this people that laid the foundation work for this building." the Minister stated.
Also speaking with journalists, the National Librarian, Prof Chinwe Anunobi, noted that the National Library is next to nothing and as a big building is expected to hold documents and other important materials.
"The National Library as a monument is supposed to be the heritage of everything produced in this country, ranging from documents, reports, monographs, so many books are being produced, newspapers, which contain many articles.
"So, we are going to have all of them here. And it's there for posterity." she added
Architect Obioma Okoko, the Principal Partner for Daily International Associate, which is the Prime or Lead Consultant, said they are working on producing the documentation with which the contractor will now make the new quotation.
"I was on this site from the beginning until work was suspended, 1981 till date. Since the work stopped, this is the third Minister that has visited this place. Mr. Wike visited this place, the immediate past minister visited this place, this is the third minister.
"They all made moves, but this is the Minister that has moved farthest towards achieving the objectives of starting work here." he said