National Library , Abia branch, sealed off over ten years arrears of rent

The Abia State branch of the National Libarary located at Ohokobe Mbaocha Ibeku Hall in Umuahia North LGA may be relocated to another state as a result of the sealing off of the facility by the landlord community via a traditional injunction from a Cultural society that folowing the non payment of their rent for about ten years now.

Addressing Newsmen that visited the facility as a result of the ugly development, the State Director of the National Library, Mr Enang Ikpi Efoli, revealed that the Library was owing arrears of rent for about ten, totalling N15 million.

Mr Efoli pointed out that according to the understanding reached before granting the hosting of the facility, it was the responsibility of the host State to provide temporary accommodation, make the payment and also provide land for the building of a Permanent Site which will be executed by the Federal Government.

He revealed that it was a former administration that got Ohokobe Mbaocha Hall for them with an agreement of Annual rent of 1.5 Million Naira and appealed to the State Government to come to the assistance of the Library over rent indebtedness.

He explained that the State Branch of the National Library which provides unique Services to Abians, may relocate to another State if the State Government do not urgently resolve the rent issue with their Tenant, Ohokobe Mbaocha Community, where the Library is temporarily situated.

In his reaction, the Chairman, Ohokobe Mbaocha Ndume lbeku, Mr Nduka Awomukwu, said the Community has no problem with the National Library but only requires their rent for the maintenance of the Building.

Mr Awomukwu made it clear that the Community recognises the unique Services that the National Library provides and had always exercised patience leading to their rent not been paid for the past ten Years.

According to him, before securing the traditional injunction from the Okonko Society to seal off the Library Office, the Community had written to relevant Government Agencies to defray the ten-year rent without success.

He therefore appealed to the Education loving Governor, Dr Alex Otti to intervene in defraying the rent, to enable the National Library to continue to provide unique Services to Abians.