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THE PROTOTYPE BUILDING OF THE
HEADQUARTERS OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF NIGERIA.
The National Library of Nigeria, Variously described as the
giant memory of the Nation, Nigeria’s intellectual
store-house and the databank for her learning and
remembering processes is, finally, about to have its own
headquarters’ building.
The Proposed National Library building is a complex
structure on eleven floors. It includes two basement floors,
ground floor and eight upper floors with internal voids on
the upper floors.
It is a framed building in reinforced concrete column bases,
cladded externally in granite faced walls in part and
curtain walling in other parts. The internal partitions are
in aluminium framed removable partitions with block work in
other areas. The finishing is in emulsion, gloss, textured
paint, glazed wall tiles and timber paneling as recommended.
There are eight external escape staircases, and twelve other
staircases stopping at different levels. There are also ten
passenger’s lifts and eight dumb waiters.
The building measures 134.9 x 134.9 x 52m high above ground
level to the top of the roof. The gross floor area,
inclusive of the basement, is 86,000m2 approximate.
The National Library headquarters, to be located in the
Central Business District, separated from the National
Mosque by the major road that traverses the capital city
from the airport to the Three-Arms zone will, on completion,
be a fitting national monument.
This year, 2005, the Federal Government has voted a handsome
amount of money to kick-start the erection of this gigantic
structure that promises to dominate the Abuja skyline, not
only because of its auspicious location, but also because of
its sheer splendour.
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