The Federal Government has set a 24-month deadline for the completion of the ongoing reconstruction of the National Library headquarters complex in Abuja.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the timeline on Thursday during a familiarisation visit to the project site, assuring Nigerians that the government would ensure the work was completed as scheduled.
The project, which commenced in 2006 with an initial two-year completion period, was awarded to Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) at a cost of N8.59 billion.
However, construction suffered prolonged delays spanning nearly two decades due to funding constraints, contract variations and disagreements over the cost of completing the facility.
In August, the Federal Government approved an additional N118.309 billion for construction works and another N37 billion for furnishing the complex, bringing the total funding requirement to approximately N155 billion.
Speaking during the inspection, Alausa said the Ministry of Education had put measures in place to prevent funding and administrative bottlenecks from disrupting work on the project.
He assured that construction would continue without interruption until the facility was ready for commissioning, adding that contractors and consultants would be held accountable for any delays in processing payments.
The minister said the renewed commitment followed a directive by President Bola Tinubu to mobilise funds and ensure contractors returned to the site.
He described education as a critical foundation for national development, noting that the President had prioritised the sector and provided the necessary support to advance key projects.
Alausa also commended the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for her commitment to the completion of the National Library project, saying her sustained advocacy helped secure additional funding.
The National Library headquarters project was conceived in 1981, while construction began on April 29, 2006, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Established in 1964, the National Library of Nigeria is the country’s apex library institution, with statutory responsibilities for collecting, preserving and providing access to Nigeria’s published intellectual heritage.
