The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the augmentation of the existing contract for the completion and comprehensive furnishing of the National Library of Nigeria Headquarters Complex in Abuja, bringing fresh hope to an 18-year-old abandoned project.

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa who disclosed this on Sunday, commended President Bola Tinubu for his intervention in mobilising funds for the completion of the National Library, describing the development as another indication that the education sector was on a “glorious path.”

Alausa also commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her contribution to the project, saying about N25 billion generated from gifts received during her birthday celebration had been directed towards the completion of the National Library.

The Minister said the headquarters project, which commenced on April 29, 2006, was originally scheduled for completion within two years but was stalled in October 2008 and remained abandoned through successive administrations.

According to him, President Tinubu, upon assuming office, directed that funds be mobilised to revive the project, including support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

He said: “President Bola Tinubu, when he came in, mandated that we look for funds, real funds, that we use in completing this National Library. He directed that we source funds from Tertiary Education Trust Fund, and we’ve cobbled some funds together.”

Alausa said noted that the funds sourced through TETFund, alongside the N25 billion generated through the First Lady’s initiative and other interventions, had strengthened the financial base required to return the project to the construction phase.

“Combined with the money we’ve sourced from TETFund, the Council today approved the augmentation of the existing contract for the completion of the construction of the National Library of Nigeria Headquarters Building Complex in Abuja.”

The minister expressed optimism that full construction activities would resume in the coming months, describing the FEC approval as a major milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to end the prolonged abandonment of the project.

According.to him, the National Library was not merely an infrastructure project, but a strategic national knowledge centre that would support learning, research, scholarship, information access and the preservation of Nigeria’s intellectual heritage.

He noted that the revival of the project underscored the Tinubu administration’s commitment to completing critical education infrastructure that had remained unfinished for years.

Alausa said the completion and furnishing of the complex would transform the abandoned structure into a modern national institution capable of serving present and future generations.

He expressed appreciation to President
Tinubu for providing the leadership and support required to revive the project, while also commending the First Lady for her financial contribution.

“Abandoned National Library for 18 years, President Bola Tinubu has now been able to mobilise funds, cobbled funds together, for work to go back, to start again at the National Library. We thank you, Mr. President,” he said.

Alausa in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, described the FEC approval as a significant step towards restoring the National Library to its intended position as a major national knowledge and research institution.

He said the intervention would ensure that the long-abandoned project was not only completed but properly furnished and put to productive use for Nigerians.

The development, he added, represents a renewed commitment by the Federal Government to preserving the country’s intellectual heritage while providing modern infrastructure to support education, research and access to knowledge.

The National Library Headquarters Complex is expected, upon completion and furnishing, to provide a central platform for the preservation and dissemination of knowledge and information for Nigerians across generations.

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