Liberians in Monrovia and beyond stand to see more reliable and affordable transport after the National Transit Authority commissioned 20 buses and five cargo trucks at a ceremony attended by government officials, NTA leaders, private partners and business representatives. The vehicles increase the authority's operational capacity for passenger routes and add logistics capacity for agricultural produce, merchandise and market deliveries.
NTA Managing Director Edmund Ford called the handover a historic milestone and credited President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for helping the authority recover and expand. Ford said that when his team took charge two years and six months ago the authority held only US$41 and L$130,000 in cash balances, underscoring the depth of the institution's fiscal shortfall. He said the government later provided US$300,000 under NTA's 100-day deliverable budget for spare parts and equipment, followed by US$400,000 through the Public Sector Investment Project, funds that enabled limited purchases, repairs and fuel procurement.
Ford outlined a procurement plan initiated in early 2025 that originally envisaged 50 buses over five years. Instead, NTA reached an agreement with ABK Incorporated for 55 vehicles valued at US$3.94 million, structured on a financing model to spread payments. An initial payment of US$500,000 was made in June 2025, with the remaining US$3.44 million scheduled for payment over two years beginning in January 2026.
The managing director said the new buses will first serve special services, airport shuttles and student transport under designated arrangements, while the cargo trucks will carry farm produce and other goods to markets and could be deployed in cross-border trade lanes over time. Ford urged partnerships with the Liberia Marketing Association, the Ministry of Agriculture, the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization to build a coordinated farm-to-market transport system.
Ford also announced steps to modernize revenue collection, saying NTA signed a US$248,000 contract with Labora, a Liberian-owned firm, to deploy an electronic payment system. An initial payment has been made and a facility to house the system's data centre is under construction, with completion expected before December 2026.
Transport Minister Sirleaf Tyler said the fleet expansion matters for commuters from Barnard Junction, New Georgia Junction, Du Port Road, Carway Junction and other communities, stressing the social and economic value of the buses. "These buses represent more than just vehicles. They represent access, they represent opportunity, they represent dignity, and they represent hope for the traveling public," Tyler said. He warned staff that the vehicles are national assets that must be maintained and protected from misuse.
The NTA board chairman said the commissioning should mark the start of a transition toward financial sustainability. "The board vision for NTA is transition from government dependence to a financially stable institution," he said, urging management to tighten fare collection and pursue government contracts so the fleet generates revenue while meeting public needs. Deputy Public Works Minister for Administration A. Samuel Kadduna linked the expanded fleet to wider economic gains, noting benefits for workers, students, farmers and traders and calling for county terminals, reliable schedules, affordable fares and prioritised passenger safety.
ABK Incorporated's chief executive framed the delivery as evidence that Liberian businesses can meet large public-sector contracts and asked for continued public support for local suppliers. With payments and system rollouts scheduled through 2026, the NTA now faces the operational task of turning new vehicles into steady services while managing a multi-year financing commitment.
