The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has given contractors and consultants handling the National Library of Nigeria project a firm warning to meet new delivery timelines or face sanctions, declaring that the era of indefinite delays on the project is over.
Dr. Alausa issued the directive on Saturday in Abuja during a meeting with stakeholders, including contractors, consultants and officials of the National Library of Nigeria.
“This is a change day. We will make you accountable for the timelines we're going to set for ourselves,” the Minister said.
“If you're not meeting your guidelines, the timelines, I'm sorry, you'll be penalised.”
The Minister said the Federal Government would establish reasonable delivery timelines and hold contractors to the commitments in new agreements being developed for the project.
According to a statement by Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser, Media and Communications, the arrangements will include incentives for performance and disincentives for delays.
To accelerate completion, the Minister disclosed that the project has been split into two components physical infrastructure and furnishing to allow both to run concurrently.
While assuring that government would provide the necessary funding, Alausa stressed that money would be matched with “strict expectations on delivery and adherence to agreed standards.”
The National Library was conceived in 1981 and construction began in 2006 with an initial 24-month completion target of 2008.
The project remained unfinished for years despite its prime location in Abuja’s Central Business District alongside the National Mosque and National Economic Centre.
Alausa said the renewed push reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prioritisation of education and human capital development as drivers of national transformation.
He described the library as “far more than a physical structure” a critical institution for learning, research and knowledge development.
The Minister lauded President Tinubu for providing the political will to move the project forward and commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for mobilizing support.
He recalled that the First Lady, a former teacher, used her 2025 birthday to raise about ₦25 billion in two months for the library.
Her visit to the National Library of Qatar has also shaped the government’s vision for the Nigerian facility.
“We’ll have a National Library that looks like National Library of Qatar,” Alausa said, adding that the new design will emphasize accessibility and inclusion with dedicated spaces for children, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, girls and boys.
Modern and ergonomic furniture standards are also being adopted after officials visited the Qatar facility.
Dr. Alausa commended the management of the National Library of Nigeria and charged all contractors and consultants to match government’s commitment with “urgency, professionalism and accountability.”
He said the Ministry, working with the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, would maintain close oversight to ensure stakeholders deliver on their responsibilities.
“The Federal Government will not compromise on quality, standards or value for money. Every naira committed must translate into a facility that Nigerians can use and be proud of,” he affirmed.
The Ministry said it remains focused on delivering a modern, inclusive and world-class National Library for Nigerians and future generations.