The Federal Government has set a 24-month deadline for the completion of the reconstruction of the National Library of Nigeria headquarters complex in Abuja, nearly two decades after the project commenced.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the deadline on Thursday during a familiarisation visit to the project site, assuring Nigerians that the government would ensure the work was completed within the stipulated period.
The project was initially awarded in 2006 to Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) at the cost of N8.59 billion, with an expected completion period of two years.
However, construction suffered prolonged delays spanning almost two decades due to funding constraints, contract variations and disagreements over the cost of completion.
In August, the Federal Government approved an additional N118.309 billion for the completion of construction works, alongside N37 billion for furnishing the complex.
The approvals bring the total funding requirement for completing and furnishing the abandoned project to approximately N155 billion.
Speaking during the inspection, Alausa said the Ministry of Education had put measures in place to prevent further delays caused by funding and administrative bottlenecks.
“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.
“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.”
The minister attributed the renewed push to President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the mobilisation of funds and the return of contractors to the project site.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu knows exactly what this country needs. He knows that education is the bedrock of any egalitarian society,” Alausa said.
“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 also commended the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for her personal commitment to the completion of the National Library project, noting that her sustained advocacy contributed to securing additional funding.
The National Library headquarters project was conceived in 1981, while construction officially commenced on April 29, 2006, under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Established in 1964, the National Library of Nigeria is the country’s apex library institution. Its statutory responsibilities include collecting, preserving and providing access to Nigeria’s published intellectual heritage.
