FG Fires Fresh Warning at Contractors as N118.3bn National Library Faces Deadline

The Federal Government has issued a fresh warning to contractors working on the long-delayed National Library of Nigeria project in Abuja, saying failure to meet agreed delivery targets could attract sanctions.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the warning as the government stepped up efforts to complete the project, which has remained unfinished for about 18 years.

The project, estimated at N118.309 billion for construction and completion works, is one of the major education infrastructure projects being pursued by the Federal Government.

Alausa said the government would no longer accept indefinite delays and expected contractors to deliver according to agreed contractual timelines.

He spoke in Abuja during a meeting involving contractors, consultants and officials of the National Library of Nigeria.

The minister said the government was prepared to provide the necessary funding required to move the project forward, but contractors would be expected to match that commitment with performance, quality and accountability.

According to him, failure to comply with contractual obligations could lead to penalties.

The government is also introducing new contractual arrangements designed to establish realistic delivery timelines while providing incentives for performance and disincentives where contractors fail to meet their obligations.

The tougher position comes as the Federal Government seeks to bring an end to years of delays surrounding the National Library headquarters.

The project has a long history. It was conceived in 1981, while construction of the current headquarters began in April 2006 with an initial completion timeline of two years.

However, work stalled in October 2008, leaving the project unfinished for years. The prolonged delay has made completion of the Abuja headquarters a recurring issue for successive administrations.

The latest intervention follows the Federal Executive Council’s approval of about N118.309 billion for the completion of the construction component of the project.

The government has also approved about N37 billion for furnishing the facility, bringing the combined commitment to roughly N155 billion.

The authorities have said the construction and furnishing components will be pursued concurrently rather than waiting for one stage to be completed before beginning the other.

The Education Ministry has previously said President Bola Tinubu directed officials to explore legally available funding sources to ensure the completion of the project.

Officials have also stressed that funds subject to legal disputes would not be used for the project.

The Federal Government’s latest approach is therefore focused not only on releasing funds but also on ensuring that contractors are held accountable for meeting agreed targets.

The minister’s warning signals a shift towards stricter performance monitoring as the government attempts to prevent another cycle of delays.

The National Library is intended to serve as a major national repository for Nigeria’s documentary heritage and provide facilities for research, education and access to information.

For the government, completing the Abuja headquarters is now being presented as a priority after years of stalled construction.

Alausa’s warning places contractors under renewed pressure as the Federal Government seeks visible progress on a project that has consumed years of planning and substantial public resources.

The government has said it will support the contractors with the funding and institutional backing required to complete the work, but expects delivery within the timelines agreed under the new contractual arrangements.

The coming months are therefore expected to be critical for the N118.3 billion project as the government moves from renewed funding commitments to actual completion of the long-delayed National Library headquarters.