The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government will complete the long-abandoned National Library of Nigeria headquarters project in Abuja, warning contractors and consultants against unnecessary delays and promising prompt payment to ensure uninterrupted construction.
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Alausa gave the assurance on Thursday, November 5, 2026, during a familiarisation visit to the project site ahead of the formal ceremony marking the resumption of construction, scheduled to be performed by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on November 19, 2026.
The minister said the Federal Government was committed to delivering the project within the agreed 24-month timeframe, adding that arrangements had been put in place to prevent funding and administrative bottlenecks from disrupting construction.
According to him, contractors have fully mobilised to the site and commenced work, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to release funds and ensure the completion of the facility, which has remained unfinished for nearly two decades.
“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,” Alausa declared.
He warned contractors and consultants against allowing delays in payment processing or administrative procedures to slow down the project, directing them to bring any challenges to his attention immediately.
“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 attributed the renewed efforts to President Tinubu’s commitment to education, explaining that the administration recognised the importance of completing critical educational infrastructure.
“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.
Alausa also commended the First Lady for her sustained advocacy and personal commitment to completing the National Library headquarters, noting that her intervention had helped secure additional funding for the project.
He explained that Mrs Tinubu’s vision extended beyond establishing a national repository of books and historical records to developing an inclusive educational and cultural centre accessible to Nigerians from different backgrounds.
According to the minister, the completed facility will provide specialised spaces for children and persons with disabilities, including individuals with visual and hearing impairments.
He said the library would also serve as a national centre for education, research and cultural preservation, with facilities capable of hosting international conferences, attracting tourists and providing access to Nigeria’s historical archives and cultural heritage.
Recalling the history of the project, Alausa expressed concern that a facility conceived to strengthen Nigeria’s educational and intellectual development had remained unfinished for so many years.
He noted that construction began in 2006 with an initial completion period of approximately two years, adding that substantial work had been carried out by 2008 before activities stalled.
The minister described the prolonged abandonment as evidence of misplaced priorities, considering the importance of the National Library to education, research and the preservation of Nigeria’s documentary heritage.
He nevertheless commended Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), the contractor handling the project, for maintaining the site, providing security and preventing encroachment during the period of inactivity.
According to him, the company’s efforts to preserve the existing infrastructure have made it possible to resume work without major setbacks arising from deterioration or unauthorised occupation of the facility.
Earlier, the Managing Director of RCC, Nader Yusuf, thanked the minister for visiting the site and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering the project.
Yusuf assured the Federal Government that RCC would comply with the minister’s directives and complete construction within 18 months, ahead of the government’s stated 24-month timeframe.
He also confirmed that the company had maintained security at the facility and prevented encroachment throughout the period when construction was suspended.
Alausa 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 who facilitated the resumption of construction.
He urged contractors responsible for construction, furnishing and equipment installation to maintain high standards and work together to ensure the project is delivered within the agreed timeframe.
The National Library headquarters project was conceived in 1981, while construction formally commenced on April 29, 2006, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The contract was initially awarded to RCC at a cost of ₦8.59 billion, with an expected completion period of approximately 22 months.
However, funding challenges, contract variations and disagreements over the cost of completing the facility contributed to repeated delays.
A second-quarter budget implementation report released by the Budget Office of the Federation in 2010 showed that the contract sum had increased from ₦8.59 billion to ₦17.01 billion following requests for variations arising from rising construction costs.
Despite successive government interventions and attempts to revive the project, construction remained stalled for about 18 years, leaving the proposed national headquarters unfinished.
In March 2025, the Federal Government announced plans to adopt a phased approach to completing the facility, beginning with the basement levels, ground floor, first and second floors, alongside external works.
The latest intervention followed the Federal Executive Council’s approval in August 2026 of ₦118.309 billion to augment the existing construction contract.
The government also approved additional funding for furnishing the facility, estimated at approximately ₦37 billion, bringing the overall funding requirement to about ₦155 billion.
The renewed financing arrangement includes support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), alongside approximately ₦25 billion said to have been generated from gifts received by the First Lady during her 65th birthday celebration.
Mrs Tinubu reportedly directed the birthday contributions towards completing the National Library headquarters.
The National Library of Nigeria, established in 1964, is the country’s apex library institution, responsible for collecting, preserving and providing access to Nigeria’s published intellectual heritage.
Its Abuja headquarters is designed to serve as a major national knowledge and cultural centre, providing facilities for academic research, documentation, digital information services, exhibitions, reading spaces and the preservation of historical records.
Upon completion, the facility is expected to improve access to information, strengthen educational research and provide a central location for preserving Nigeria’s intellectual and cultural heritage.
Alausa maintained that the Federal Government was determined to ensure that the project would not suffer another period of abandonment, insisting that construction would continue until the headquarters was completed and commissioned for public use.
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