Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for urgent action to address the long-abandoned National Library of Nigeria project, emphasizing its importance as a critical national asset. Speaking during the 60th-anniversary celebration of the National Library in Abuja on Wednesday, Obasanjo highlighted the need to complete the project, which has been stalled for over 18 years.
Describing the library as both a symbol of national pride and a necessity, Obasanjo stressed the importance of its completion to serve the educational and intellectual needs of Nigerians.
The project, located on Plot 35, Cadastral Business District in Abuja, was awarded to Reynolds Construction Company in 2006 during Obasanjo’s administration. Valued at N8.9 billion, it was initially slated for completion within four years but remains unfinished to date.
However, Obasanjo stated, “As we celebrate this remarkable milestone and embrace new directions, we must also address a pressing challenge: the completion of the National Library of Nigeria headquarters in Abuja.
“The vision for a purpose-built, state-of-the-art national library is not merely a symbolic aspiration; it is a critical necessity for our country. It represents a physical and functional commitment to our collective belief in the transformative power of knowledge in our lives and societies.
“I, therefore, call on all stakeholders – from the government to the private sector and international partners – to prioritise the completion of this vital infrastructure. A fully operational headquarters will serve as a beacon for literacy and learning, a hub for cultural preservation, and a global symbol of Nigeria’s commitment to education and innovation.”
The national librarian, Professor Veronica Anunobi, while outlining the achievements of the library, said, “Since 1974, we have issued 1,000,574 International Standard Book Numbers, as well as 27,755 International Serials Numbers since its inception in 1976.
“A greater push was made this year to fulfil our responsibility in the issuance of International Standard Music Numbers, and we were able to issue numbers for published music scores.”
