Abia Community Seals National Library Over Unpaid Rent

A community in Abia State, Ohokobe Mbaocha, in Umuahia North Local Government Area has sealed the office of the National Library of Nigeria, located in the community’s hall.

The sealing follows the non payment of annual rent for the property which accumulated to N13.2 million by the government.

The hall was rented by Abia State government in 2009 to the National Library of Nigeria at an annual rent of N1.2 million, out of which only N6 million was paid by previous administration in the state in 2012.

Angered by the failure of successive governments in the state and their inability to recover the accumulated debt after failed appeals, the leadership and members of the community sealed the Library with palm fronds, as authorised by the community enforcement society, Okonko.

Addressing Journalists on Tuesday, the Chairman of Ohokobe Mbaocha community, Nduka Awomukwu said his community has been maintaining cordial relationship with the staff of National Library but expressed worry over the heavy debt incured by the federal agency.

“This place was rented to the National Library by the previous administration of Chief T.A.Orji, Ochendo at N1.2 million per anum. His administration paid N6 million but his successor, former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu did not pay anything even when we approached him.

” We have also approached the present administration in the state appealing for their intervention”

He noted that his community, apart from using the native court to seal the library building in Umuahia, may also use a conventional High Court to retrieve their property, which he said, could lead to the ejection of the National Library of Nigeria.

In his appeal to the Ohokobe Mbaocha community and Abia State government, the State Director of National Library of Nigeria Abia State branch, Mr Enang Ikpi Efoli, explained that the accumulated rent is Abia State government’s responsibility to pay.

According to him, the rent of any temporary structure occupied by the National Library of Nigeria in states, is paid by the host state until it provides land for the National Library of Nigeria to build a permanent structure.

He expressed fear that court materials, ISSN, ISBN documents, research and other Library services provided by his office will elude Abia if it relocates to another state.