The Federal Government has issued a fresh warning to contractors and consultants handling the long-delayed National Library of Nigeria project, threatening sanctions against those who fail to meet agreed deadlines.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the warning in Abuja during a stakeholders’ meeting with contractors and consultants involved in the project, insisting that accountability, quality and timely delivery would no longer be compromised.
Alausa said the government was prepared to provide the necessary funding for the project but would equally demand strict adherence to agreed timelines and contractual obligations.
The minister declared that contractors who failed to meet the new guidelines and deadlines would face penalties, signalling a tougher approach to the completion of a project that has remained unfinished for decades.
He said the government would establish reasonable timelines and closely monitor implementation to ensure that every party involved delivers according to the commitments contained in their agreements.
The minister described the renewed approach as a major shift from the prolonged delays that have characterised the National Library project, which was conceived in 1981 and eventually commenced construction in 2006.
The project was originally scheduled for completion within 24 months, meaning the facility was expected to be ready by 2008, but it remained unfinished for years despite its importance to Nigeria’s education system.
Alausa described the National Library as a critical component of the country’s education infrastructure and human capital development, stressing that its continued abandonment could no longer be tolerated.
He said the facility was expected to serve as a major platform for learning and knowledge development and should therefore reflect the importance of education to Nigeria’s national development.
The minister disclosed that the project has now been divided into two major components, covering physical infrastructure and furnishing, with both aspects expected to progress simultaneously.
According to him, running the infrastructure and furnishing components in parallel is part of the strategy to accelerate completion and prevent delays in one area from holding up the entire project.
The Federal Government also plans to transform the facility into a modern national institution with features inspired partly by the National Library of Qatar.
Alausa revealed that First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu had visited the National Library of Qatar in Doha and directed Nigerian officials and project stakeholders to study its facilities and incorporate relevant modern features into the Nigerian project.
The minister said the completed Nigerian facility is expected to provide a modern experience comparable to leading libraries internationally, including the Qatar model that officials have studied.
The renewed design will also prioritise accessibility and inclusion by providing dedicated spaces for children, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, girls and boys.
Attention is equally being given to modern and ergonomic furniture, with officials and contractors visiting the Qatar facility to study its furnishing and determine suitable features for the Nigerian library.
The renewed push comes amid growing concerns over the prolonged delay in completing a project that is expected to play a significant role in education, research, literacy and national knowledge development.
Alausa said the National Library should serve as a facilitator of the education system and a place where Nigeria’s human capital can be developed, making its prolonged unfinished state unacceptable.
He also credited President Bola Tinubu’s administration with placing education at the centre of the Federal Government’s national development agenda.
The minister further commended the President and First Lady for supporting the project, noting that the First Lady mobilised about N25 billion for the National Library during her 2025 birthday campaign.
Alausa said the Ministry of Education, working with Minister of State for Education Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, would maintain oversight of the project to ensure contractors and consultants comply with agreed standards.
He stressed that government funding would be matched by strict enforcement of accountability, quality and value for money throughout the implementation process.
The warning places contractors under renewed pressure to demonstrate measurable progress as the Federal Government seeks to end the decades-long delay surrounding one of Nigeria’s most significant education infrastructure projects.
With new timelines expected to guide implementation and sanctions hanging over non-performing contractors, attention will now shift to whether the renewed government strategy can finally deliver the National Library to Nigerians.