Monrovia – President Joseph Boakai on Thursday devoted a fleet of brand-new public transport buses, representing the primary batch of 60 automobiles promised underneath a procurement settlement between the Nationwide Transit Authority (NTA) and ABK Integrated, a Liberian-owned firm.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh
Whereas the federal government launched an intensive media marketing campaign celebrating the arrival and dedication of the buses, it didn’t disclose full particulars of the financing association behind the procurement. Nonetheless, paperwork obtained by FrontPage Africa reveal that the settlement is valued at US$3.94 million for the supply of 35 brand-new 62-seater TATA buses, 20 mini-buses, and 5 SINOTRUK vehicles, aimed toward increasing the NTA’s nationwide fleet.
An excerpt from the contract reads: “The Events have mutually agreed that the supply of the automobiles shall be on the Freeport of Monrovia and shall be specified, quantified with the entire contract worth of Three Million 9 Hundred Forty Thousand United States {Dollars} (USS3,940,000.00). This whole quantity is inclusive of dealing with and port expenses and obligation. The Nationwide Transit Authority shall underwrite the price of customs duties.”
Signature Web page: Who Signed the Deal?
The contract, signed and notarized in March 2025, bears the signatures of, Edmund Forh, Managing Director, NTA, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Finance & Improvement Planning, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Minister of Justice and Alieu B. Kromah, CEO of ABK Integrated
What’s within the settlement?
The settlement stipulates that following the signing, and upon receipt of an preliminary US$500,000 from the federal government’s budgetary allotment, ABK Integrated would start supply of the fleet.
The remaining US$3.44 million shall be settled by the Ministry of Finance and Improvement Planning (MFDP) and the NTA in eight equal quarterly installments.
Cost Breakdown
12 months One (2026) – US$1.72 Million. This can cowl 4 quarterly funds of US$430,000 every from January to December 2026.
In 12 months Two (2027), an quantity US$1.72 Million shall be paid. This embody one other 4 quarterly funds of US$430,000 every by December 2027.
In keeping with the contract, the MFDP is required to challenge a cost assure for the excellent steadiness on behalf of the Authorities of Liberia.
A two-week grace interval is allowed for late funds; past that, the contract imposes a 3% month-to-month curiosity on arrears.
What Liberia Is Receiving 35 TATA Mass Transit Buses (62-Seater), Cummins B180 Euro II engines, 6-cylinder diesel, full air S-CAM braking system, ABS, anti-roll bars, twin passenger doorways and 350-liter gas tank; 20 mini transit buses (19-Seater). These vehicles are Euro II diesel engines, high-roof design and designed for short-distance mobility and 5 SINOTRUK Cargo Vehicles – heavy-duty configuration for transport and logistics assist.
Provider Obligations: Spare Elements, Coaching & Guarantee
The settlement mandates ABK Integrated to provide one 12 months of spare components for all buses and vehicles, present three extra engines and one-year spare components for the mini-buses, prepare NTA mechanics in servicing and repairs and ofer a one-year or 30,000-km guarantee on all the fleet
Faulty models should be changed inside one month of acknowledgment.
Failure to fulfill guarantee requirements constitutes a breach of the settlement.
Period, Termination & Disputes
The contract stays legitimate from January 1, 2026, till full cost is accomplished.
Both get together could terminate the settlement with 30-day written discover, offered justifiable trigger is established.
Unresolved disputes shall be dealt with by arbitration underneath Liberian legislation, which governs all the settlement.
The signing was licensed by Notary Public Jefferson S. Crew on March 20, 2025.
Name for Transparency
Whereas many Liberians have welcomed the brand new buses—viewing them as lengthy overdue reduction to the nation’s strained public transport system—the monetary disclosures have triggered a wave of questions:
“That is welcoming however we want readability: How was the procurement carried out? what’s the supply of the funds? Is the financing a mortgage? If that’s the case, at what rate of interest?, requested Abraham Kollie, a legislative staffer who attended this system.
Kollie needs to know the monetary obligation, together with curiosity and costs, revenue margin of ABK Integrated incomes and whether or not the Legislature was made conscious or requested to approve the financing association?
Through the dedication, President Boakai said that Ecobank is financing among the administration’s tasks, together with the yellow earth-moving machines. This revelation has heightened public curiosity in whether or not the financial institution can also be offering financing for the buses—and underneath what phrases.
To date, key events to the contract have remained silent in regards to the monetary construction behind the deal.
The general public is demanding detailed explanations from the NTA, MFDP, and the Government Department. With thousands and thousands of {dollars} in taxpayer sources dedicated, residents insist on full readability about how the funds have been sourced and the phrases underneath which they are going to be repaid.
Given the size of the procurement and the monetary implications, monetary specialists are calling on the Legislature to request a full breakdown of the procurement course of, demand disclosure of financing phrases and previous public hearings to make sure transparency and accountability.
Liberians need to know the way their cash is being spent. The Legislature ought to step in to ask these related questions to make sure transparency and accountability,” stated William Smith, an economist residing in Monrovia.
