Alausa Orders Contractors to Fast-Track National Library Project, Warns Against Substandard Work
Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has directed contractors and consultants handling the long-delayed National Library of Nigeria project to meet strict delivery timelines, maintain quality standards and avoid further delays, warning that failure to deliver on agreed targets will attract sanctions.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Sunday, Alausa said the Federal Government was prepared to provide the funding required to complete the project but would demand accountability, professionalism and value for money from all parties involved
Alausa explained that new contractual arrangements would include clear performance benchmarks backed by incentives and penalties to ensure timely completion.
“If you’re not meeting your guidelines or timelines, you’ll be penalised,” he warned.
To accelerate delivery, the minister disclosed that the project had been divided into two major components—physical construction and furnishing—allowing both phases to progress simultaneously.
He assured contractors that funding would not be an obstacle but stressed that every allocation must translate into measurable progress.
Describing the National Library as a strategic national institution rather than merely another government building, Alausa said the facility would serve as a centre for research, innovation, learning and knowledge preservation capable of supporting Nigeria’s human capital development.
The minister recalled that the project was conceived in 1981 and construction commenced in 2006 with a planned completion date of 2008, yet it has remained unfinished for nearly two decades.
According to him, the Tinubu administration is determined to reverse that trend through stronger oversight and sustained investment in education infrastructure.
The minister also revealed that lessons from the Qatar National Library would influence the final design of Nigeria’s National Library to ensure it meets global standards.
“We’ll have a National Library that looks like the National Library of Qatar,” he said.
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