Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has warned contractors and consultants handling the National Library of Nigeria project against further delays and substandard work, directing them to meet delivery timelines to be set by the Federal Government or face sanctions.
Alausa issued the warning on Sunday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ meeting on the National Library project attended by contractors, consultants and officials of the National Library of Nigeria.
The Minister, in a statement on Sunday by Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr Ikharo Attah, said the Federal Government was prepared to provide the funds required to accelerate the completion of the project but would demand accountability, quality and value for money in return.
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“This is a change day. We will make you accountable for the timelines we’re going to set for ourselves,” Alausa told the stakeholders.
He said the government would establish realistic delivery timelines and ensure that contractors and consultants were held to the commitments contained in the agreements being developed for the project.
According to him, the new contractual arrangements will include incentives and disincentives to ensure compliance and drive performance.
“If you’re not meeting your guidelines, the timelines, I’m sorry, you’ll be penalised,” he warned.
To speed up completion, Alausa disclosed that the project had been divided into two major components — physical infrastructure and furnishing — which would be executed concurrently.
He assured contractors that the government would make funds available to facilitate the work, stressing that the release of funds would be matched with strict expectations on quality, timely delivery and compliance with agreed standards.
The Minister said the National Library was not merely an infrastructure project but 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 completion period of 24 months.
Despite the original 2008 completion target, the project has remained unfinished for years.
Alausa said the National Library occupies a strategic location in Abuja’s Central Business District, alongside major national landmarks, including the National Mosque and the National Economic Centre.
He said the renewed push to complete the project reflected the Federal Government’s changing approach to education infrastructure under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, the President has demonstrated strong political commitment to education through increased attention to the sector and innovative financing arrangements aimed at completing critical projects such as the National Library.
The Minister expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for providing the political will and support needed to move the project forward, saying the President recognises education as critical to Nigeria’s future.
He also commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her commitment to the project and efforts to mobilise additional resources for its completion.
Alausa recalled that the First Lady, a former teacher and advocate for education, used her 2025 birthday to mobilise support for the National Library, raising about N25 billion within two months.
He described the intervention as a demonstration of her commitment to education and the future of Nigerian children.
The Minister 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.
He said she had directed Nigerian officials and stakeholders to study the world-class Qatar facility and incorporate relevant modern features into the Nigerian project.
“We’ll have a National Library that looks like National Library of Qatar,” Alausa said.
He explained that the renewed vision would focus not only on completing the existing structure but also on delivering a modern, accessible and inclusive facility capable of serving Nigerians to global standards.
The Minister said the facility would provide dedicated spaces and appropriate facilities for children, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, girls and boys.
He added that attention was also being given 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, contractors, consultants and other stakeholders for their contributions, but charged them to match the government’s renewed commitment with urgency, professionalism and accountability.
He said the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, would maintain close oversight of the project to ensure that all stakeholders delivered on their respective responsibilities.
The Minister reaffirmed that the Federal Government would not compromise on quality, standards or value for money, stressing that every naira invested in the project must translate into a facility that Nigerians could use and be proud of.
He said the strong support of President Tinubu and the First Lady had strengthened the drive to complete the long-delayed project, assuring that the Ministry would remain focused on delivering a modern, inclusive and world-class National Library for present and future generations.