Alausa Orders Speedy Completion of National Library By Beauty Akporido Aroh
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has ordered contractors and consultants handling the National Library of Nigeria project to meet delivery timelines, maintain quality standards and avoid further delays, warning that failure to meet agreed targets will attract sanctions.
Alausa gave the directive in Abuja at a meeting with stakeholders in the project, including contractors, consultants and officials of the National Library of Nigeria.
He said the Federal Government was prepared to provide the necessary funding to drive the completion of the project but would demand commensurate performance, quality and accountability.
“This is a change day. We will make you accountable for the timelines we’re going to set for ourselves,” the Minister told the stakeholders.
He said the government would establish reasonable delivery timelines and hold contractors and consultants accountable to commitments contained in agreements being developed for the project.
According to him, the era of allowing the National Library project to remain indefinitely under construction must end, stressing that the new contractual arrangements would include appropriate incentives and disincentives to drive performance.
“If you’re not meeting your guidelines, the timelines, I’m sorry, you’ll be penalised,” he warned.
To accelerate completion, Alausa disclosed that the project had been divided into two major components — physical infrastructure and furnishing — which would be pursued concurrently.
He assured contractors that government would make funds available to support the work but insisted that funding would be matched by strict expectations on delivery and adherence to agreed standards.
The Minister said the renewed push for completion of the National Library was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prioritisation of education and human capital development as key drivers of national transformation.
Alausa described the National Library as more than a physical structure, saying it remained a critical national institution for learning, research, knowledge development and human capital development.
He recalled that the National Library was conceived in 1981, while construction commenced in 2006 with an initial 24-month completion period. Despite the original completion target of 2008, the project remained unfinished for years.
He noted that the facility occupies a prominent location in Abuja’s Central Business District alongside major national edifices, including the National Mosque and the National Economic Centre.
Alausa said the renewed attention to the project reflected a fundamental shift in the Federal Government’s approach to education infrastructure under the Tinubu administration.
He commended President Tinubu for the political will and support towards the completion of the project, saying the President had demonstrated strong commitment to education through increased attention to the sector and innovative financing arrangements for critical projects.
The Minister also commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her personal commitment to the National Library project and efforts to mobilise additional support for its completion.
He recalled that the First Lady, a former teacher and advocate for education, used her 2025 birthday to mobilise support for the project, raising about N25 billion within two months.
Alausa described the intervention as a demonstration of her commitment to education and the future of Nigerian children.
He further disclosed that the First Lady’s visit to the National Library of Qatar had influenced the Federal Government’s vision for the Nigerian facility, following her call for Nigerian officials and project stakeholders to study the world-class library and incorporate relevant modern features.
The Minister said the objective was not merely to complete the abandoned structure but to deliver a modern national institution capable of serving Nigerians to global standards.
“We’ll have a National Library that looks like National Library of Qatar,” he said.
He explained that the renewed vision for the facility would place greater emphasis on accessibility and inclusion, with dedicated spaces and appropriate facilities for children, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, girls and boys.
He added that attention was also being paid to modern and ergonomic furniture, noting that relevant officials and contractors had visited the Qatar National Library to study its facilities and furnishing standards.
Alausa commended the management of the National Library of Nigeria and other stakeholders for their contributions, while charging contractors and consultants to match the government’s renewed commitment with urgency, professionalism and accountability.
He said the Ministry of Education, working with the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, would maintain close oversight of the project and ensure that stakeholders remained focused on their respective responsibilities.
Alausa reaffirmed that the Federal Government would not compromise on quality, standards or value for money, stressing that every naira committed to the project must translate into a facility Nigerians can use and be proud of.
He said the strong support of President Tinubu and the First Lady had strengthened the drive to complete the project, assuring that the Ministry of Education would remain focused on delivering a modern, inclusive and world-class National Library for Nigerians and generations to come.
