The Federal Government has warned contractors and consultants handling the long-delayed National Library of Nigeria project that they will face sanctions if they fail to meet newly established delivery timelines.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, issued the warning on Sunday in Abuja during a meeting with contractors, consultants and officials of the National Library of Nigeria, declaring that the government would no longer tolerate indefinite delays in completing the national project.

Alausa said the Federal Government was prepared to provide the funding required to complete the facility but would demand strict accountability, quality and measurable performance in return.

“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 agree on realistic completion targets with the contractors and consultants and incorporate appropriate incentives and penalties into the contractual arrangements.

“If you’re not meeting your guidelines, the timelines, I’m sorry, you’ll be penalised,” he warned.

40 Years After Conception, FG Moves to Finish Library

The renewed push to complete the National Library comes after decades of delays surrounding the project.

Alausa said the National Library was conceived in 1981, while construction began in 2006 with an initial 24-month completion timeline. The original target therefore envisaged completion by 2008, but the project has remained unfinished for years.

The minister said the government was determined to end the prolonged construction cycle and deliver the facility as a functional national institution rather than merely complete a building.

To accelerate the process, he disclosed that the project had been divided into two major components physical infrastructure and furnishing which would now be pursued concurrently.

He assured contractors that funding would be made available, but stressed that government financing would be matched by firm expectations on delivery, quality and compliance with agreed standards.

Alausa described the National Library as a strategic national asset critical to learning, research, knowledge development and human-capital development.

He noted that the facility occupies a prominent location in Abuja’s Central Business District alongside major national landmarks, making its prolonged abandonment particularly significant.

FG Targets Qatar-Style National Library

Beyond completing the long-delayed project, Alausa said the government wants the facility redesigned and equipped to operate at international standards.

He said the Federal Government’s vision was partly influenced by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, following her visit to the Qatar National Library.

“We’ll have a National Library that looks like National Library of Qatar,” Alausa said.

According to him, Nigerian officials and project stakeholders had visited the Qatar facility to study its architecture, facilities and furnishing standards, with lessons expected to inform the completion of the Nigerian project.

The proposed facility, he said, would prioritise accessibility and inclusion, with dedicated spaces and appropriate facilities for children, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, girls and boys.

Attention would also be given to modern and ergonomic furniture and other features required of a contemporary national library.

First Lady Mobilised ₦25bn for Project

Alausa credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady with providing political and financial support for the renewed push to complete the project.

He said President Tinubu’s administration had demonstrated increased commitment to education and human-capital development, including through innovative financing arrangements for critical education infrastructure.

The minister also commended Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her personal intervention, recalling that she used her 2025 birthday to mobilise support for the National Library.

According to Alausa, the First Lady’s initiative raised about ₦25 billion within two months towards the completion of the project.

He described the intervention as evidence of her commitment to education and the future of Nigerian children.

Alausa said the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, would maintain close supervision of the project to ensure that contractors and consultants delivered on their responsibilities.

He reiterated that the government would not compromise on quality, standards or value for money.

“Every naira committed to the project must translate into a facility that Nigerians can use and be proud of,” the minister said.

The Federal Government’s latest directive effectively places contractors and consultants handling the National Library project on notice that continued delays will no longer be accommodated as the administration seeks to finally deliver the long-awaited national knowledge and research institution.