The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the release of funds for the completion and comprehensive furnishing of the National Library of Nigeria Headquarters Complex in Abuja, a project abandoned for 18 years.

Alausa said the intervention followed the Federal Executive Council’s approval of an augmentation of the existing contract for the completion of the long-delayed project.

The Minister, while speaking on the development, described the President’s intervention as a demonstration of renewed commitment to critical education infrastructure and an indication that Nigeria’s education sector was on a “glorious path.”

Construction of the National Library Headquarters commenced on April 29, 2006, with an initial completion period of two years. However, work was halted in October 2008, leaving the massive structure unfinished through successive administrations.

According to Alausa, President Tinubu, upon assuming office, directed the mobilisation of resources to ensure the completion of the project, including funding support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

“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,” the Minister said.

Alausa also commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her contribution to the project, revealing that she directed that gifts received during her birthday celebration be channelled towards the completion of the National Library.

He said the initiative generated about ₦25 billion, which, alongside funds sourced through TETFund and other interventions, had strengthened the financial base for the completion of the complex.

“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,” he said.

The Minister expressed optimism that construction would resume fully in the coming months, describing the approval as a major milestone that would bring an end to years of uncertainty surrounding the project.

He said the completion of the National Library was not merely about finishing a physical structure but about establishing a national centre for knowledge, research, scholarship, information access and the preservation of Nigeria’s intellectual heritage.

Alausa noted that the project’s revival was part of the broader efforts of the Tinubu administration to address abandoned critical infrastructure and strengthen the education sector.

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

“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,” the Minister said.

Alausa expressed confidence that the renewed funding and momentum would lead to the completion and furnishing of the National Library Headquarters, transforming the long-abandoned structure into a functional national knowledge centre for present and future generations.