FG pledges to complete abandoned national library project within 24 months

ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Federal Government has pledged to complete the long-abandoned National Library of Nigeria headquarters project in Abuja within 24 months, with the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, warning contractors against delays and assuring them of prompt payment to sustain construction activities.

Alausa gave the assurance on Thursday during a familiarisation visit to the project site ahead of the formal return-to-site ceremony scheduled for November 19, 2026, to be performed by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The minister said the government was committed to completing the project within the agreed timeframe, adding that measures were in place to prevent funding and administrative challenges from disrupting construction.

He said contractors had fully mobilised to the site and begun work, and he expressed confidence that the facility would be delivered within the stipulated 24-month period.

“Our own commitment at the Federal Ministry of Education is that work will not stop for one day until we get to the point where we commission this building,” he said.

Alausa warned contractors and consultants handling the project against allowing payment processing and administrative bottlenecks to affect the pace of construction.

He urged them to report any challenges directly to him, assuring them that the ministry would address issues that could threaten the timely delivery of the project.

“We have put processes in place on how the contractor will request additional payment. I am going to speak publicly to all contractors and consultants today.

If there are delays in processing, I need to know. I want to be bothered because this is a commitment to the Nigerian people,” he stated.

The minister said the government’s renewed commitment to the project was driven by President Bola Tinubu, who had directed the mobilisation of funds and the return of contractors to the site.

According to him, the President recognises education as a critical foundation for national development and has provided the Ministry of Education with the support required to advance reforms and infrastructure projects in the sector.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu knows exactly what this country needs. He knows that education is the bedrock of any egalitarian society.

If any society must develop, it must educate its citizens. That is why this President has placed so much emphasis on education and given us all the support we need,” he said.

First Lady’s Intervention Supports Project Revival

Alausa commended the First Lady for her sustained advocacy and personal commitment to ensuring the completion of the National Library headquarters, noting that her intervention had helped secure additional funding for the project.

He said her vision for the facility extended beyond establishing a national repository of books and information to creating an inclusive cultural and educational centre that would serve Nigerians across different backgrounds and abilities.

The minister disclosed that the completed facility would incorporate specialised spaces for children and persons with disabilities, including people with visual and hearing impairments.

He said the design and facilities would ensure that the National Library was accessible to a wider section of the population, providing opportunities for different categories of users to access educational and cultural resources.

Alausa also described the proposed library as a national cultural and educational centre that would host international conferences, attract tourists and provide access to Nigeria’s historical archives and cultural heritage.

He said the facility would serve as an important resource for preserving the country’s documentary heritage and making historical and educational materials available to researchers, students and members of the public.

The minister urged contractors responsible for the construction, furnishing and equipment components of the project to maintain high standards and work together to ensure that the facility was delivered within the agreed timeframe.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the Acting Permanent Secretary, Olatunji David; the Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria; the ministry’s management team; consultants and other stakeholders involved in facilitating the resumption of construction.

National Library Project Abandoned After Construction Began in 2006

The National Library of Nigeria headquarters project was conceived in 1981, while construction commenced on April 29, 2006, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The project was initially awarded to Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) for N8.59 billion, with an estimated completion period of approximately 22 months.

However, despite the initial timeline, construction activities were halted after the facility was substantially completed in 2008, leaving the project unfinished for years.

Alausa expressed concern that the prolonged abandonment reflected misplaced priorities, considering the importance of the National Library to Nigeria’s educational, cultural and archival development.

He, however, commended RCC for maintaining the project site, providing security and preventing encroachment throughout the period of inactivity.

The minister’s remarks highlighted the need to ensure that the renewed construction effort did not suffer the setbacks that affected previous attempts to complete the facility.

The project’s history has been marked by funding difficulties, contract variations and disagreements over the cost of completing the building.

A second-quarter 2010 budget implementation report by the Budget Office of the Federation showed that the original contract sum of N8.59 billion had been reviewed to N17.01 billion following requests for variations arising from rising costs.

The increase in the contract sum was among the developments that contributed to the project’s prolonged delays, alongside challenges associated with securing the resources required to complete the facility.

Despite successive efforts to revive construction, work remained stalled, leaving the national headquarters unfinished for an extended period.

FG Adopts Phased Approach to Completion

In March 2025, the Federal Government announced plans to adopt a phased approach to completing the National Library headquarters.

Under the proposed approach, construction was expected to cover the basement levels, ground floor, first and second floors, as well as external works.

The renewed mobilisation of contractors and the government’s commitment to completing the facility within 24 months represent another attempt to bring the project to fruition after years of delays.

The planned November 19 return-to-site ceremony by the First Lady is expected to formally mark the renewed construction phase.

Alausa said the Ministry of Education would remain committed to ensuring that work continued without interruption, while contractors and consultants would be expected to meet the required standards and delivery timelines.

The completion of the headquarters is expected to provide the National Library of Nigeria with a permanent central facility for its national archival, educational and cultural responsibilities.

Beyond the physical construction, the minister’s proposed vision for the facility includes improved access to information, inclusive learning spaces, preservation of historical records and the hosting of national and international educational and cultural engagements.

With a 24-month completion target now set, attention will be on the government’s ability to sustain funding, coordinate the contractors and resolve administrative challenges that could affect the delivery of the project.