The Federal Government plans to transform the long-delayed National Library of Nigeria into a world-class facility modelled after the National Library of Qatar.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated this in Abuja at a meeting with contractors, consultants and officials of the National Library of Nigeria, where he directed stakeholders to meet delivery timelines and maintain high quality standards.
“We’ll have a National Library that looks like the National Library of Qatar,” he said.
The minister said the aim was not just to complete the abandoned project but to create a modern institution capable of supporting learning, research, knowledge development and human capital growth.
He said the vision was influenced by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s visit to the National Library of Qatar, after which Nigerian officials and project stakeholders were directed to study its facilities and adopt relevant modern features.
Alausa said the new facility would prioritise accessibility and inclusion, with dedicated spaces and appropriate facilities for children, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, girls and boys.
He added that attention was also being given to modern and ergonomic furniture, noting that officials and contractors had visited the Qatar facility to study its standards.
The minister, however, warned contractors and consultants that the renewed ambition would mean little without timely execution.
“This is a change day. We will make you accountable for the timelines we’re going to set for ourselves,” Alausa told the stakeholders.
“If you’re not meeting your guidelines, the timelines, I’m sorry, you’ll be penalised,” he warned.
He said the government was ready to provide the necessary funding but would demand accountability, quality and value for money.
The project was conceived in 1981 and commenced in 2006, with an initial completion period of 24 months. Despite a 2008 target, it has remained unfinished.
Alausa said the project had now been divided into physical infrastructure and furnishing components to allow both to progress simultaneously.
He credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to education and the First Lady’s intervention, which helped mobilise about N25 billion in 2025 for the project.