The Federal Executive Council, FEC, has authorized N32.4 billion for the construction of the Abuja headquarters of the National Library.
Since 2006, the national library has been under development, costing billions of naira.
Goodluck Opia, the minister of state for education, made the announcement on Wednesday following the FEC meeting, while dealing with press at the presidential residence.
He said that the ministry issued a note for approval of the contract’s amended projected total cost.
“The scope of work for this project includes the construction of a concrete structure with 11 floors, eight upper floors for housing bookstores and two basement floors, locker rooms, bindery, restaurants, clinic, creches changing rooms, exhibition hall, printing press, auditorium, general reference areas, legal deposits, cataloguing, administration book stacks office, electronic data processing centre, reading areas, library research and training centre, gates and gatehouses, public convenience and underground car pack furnishing as well as perimeter fencing, electrical and mechanical services, internal roads and other external works,” he said.
Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, said that the FEC granted N1.398 billion for the construction of the second section of the Uto bridge in Delta state.
“The contract was awarded in 2006 but has yet to be completed,” he said, adding that the federal government was committed to completing the project before the administration ended.
“This is an old project that we are determined to finish.”
“I believe the project was approved in 2006.” So N1.398 billion was granted to modify the contract from N4.435 billion to N5.835 billion, inclusive of 7.5% VAT, to ensure that we finish this project before leaving office,” he said according to Daily Post.
