Africa-Press – Liberia. Lofa County Senator and Senate Committee Chair on National Defense, Intelligence, Security, and Veteran Affairs, Momo Tarnuekollie Cyrus, has described the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) Resident Permit Digitization Agreement with Contec Global Liberia Limited as grossly unfavorable and exploitative.
The Liberian government and Contec Global Liberia Limited entered into the Resident Permit Digitization Agreement in October 2021, seeking to modernize immigration management, enhance transparency, and boost government revenue through automation of resident permit cards for non-citizens.
Under the terms of the agreement, Contec Global Liberia Ltd. was mandated to provide digital infrastructure, training, logistical support, data management systems, and decentralized enrollment across all fifteen counties.
But, Senator Cyrus, in a communication read on the Senate floor Tuesday, October 28, 2025, requested Plenary’s endorsement to cancel the deal immediately.
Providing justification, he noted that the decision is based on records and months of investigation by the Committee on Defense, Intelligence, Security, and Veteran Affairs.
He argued that it has become evident that the agreement, in its current form and implementation, is grossly unfavorable to Liberia and continues to cost the Government millions of dollars in potential revenue losses.
“However, contrary to the spirit and letter of the agreement, implementation has been marred by persistent nonperformance, restricted institutional access, and gross under-delivery on key contractual obligations. Key Findings and Concerns – it is imperative to note that Contec Global Liberia Ltd. has failed to meet the fundamental objectives of the contract in multiple respects: Revenue Losses: the existing revenue-sharing formula of 60% to Government and 40% to Contec Global is not only lopsided but has yielded minimal returns due to low card production.” Senator Cyrus stated.
According to him, from October 2021 to December 2023, no cards were printed by CONTEC Global as required under the agreement, and between January 2024 and August 4, 2025, 17,339 cards were reportedly printed, generating approximately US$7,807,137 million of which Contec Global allegedly appropriated nearly US$3.5 million, despite providing no visible nationwide infrastructure.
Senator Cyrus, a veteran Liberian security expert, disclosed that the company’s alleged inability to decentralize enrollment to the counties has resulted in thousands of undocumented aliens residing across Liberia, translating into hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost lawful revenue annually.
Instead, he urged his colleagues to invite the Minister of Justice, the Commissioner General of the Liberia Immigration Service, the Liberia Revenue Authority, and the Ministry of Finance to appear and answer to concerns.
“In light of the foregoing, and in the spirit of legislative oversight and economic protectionism, I respectfully recommend that the Honorable Liberian Senate:
Invites the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, the Minister of Justice, the Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority, the Commissioner General of the Liberia Immigration Service, and the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, for a public hearing centered on the Digitization of Resident Permit Cards agreement Contec Global Liberia and the Government of Liberia.”
Furthermore, he appealed to the Senate to endorse a formal communication to the Executive Branch, urging immediate cancellation of the Resident Permit Digitization Agreement between the Government of Liberia and Contec Global Liberia Ltd.
“Madam President Pro Tempore and Distinguished Colleagues: It is the constitutional duty of the Liberian Senate to safeguard national interests and ensure fiscal prudence in all public contracts. It is, therefore, my considered view that if this agreement is not urgently reviewed and realigned to reflect Liberia’s best interest—or responsibly terminated, the Senate should not continue to appropriate major budgetary allocations to the Liberia Immigration Service for operations that should already be revenue-generating under this project. This communication seeks the plenary’s endorsement to formally convey the Senate’s position to the Executive Branch through the recommended actions, he further urged.
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