Africa-Press – Liberia. The evaluation mission is being led by NBC Director General Theodore Momo Jr., who has called for full transparency and cooperation from both the concession companies and residents of affected communities.
The National Bureau of Concessions (NBC) has launched a compliance review of two of Liberia’s largest agribusiness concessionaires operating in Maryland County — the Maryland Oil Palm Plantation (MOPP) and Cavalla Rubber Corporation (CRC).
A high-level team of monitoring and evaluation compliance officers from the Bureau arrived in the county over the weekend to begin what is being described as a sweeping and in-depth investigation into the companies’ adherence to the terms of their concession agreements and the socioeconomic and environmental impact of their operations on surrounding communities.
The evaluation mission is being led by NBC Director General Theodore Momo Jr., who has called for full transparency and cooperation from both the concession companies and residents of affected communities.
Speaking during a press briefing held in Pleebo, Director Momo outlined the objectives of the review and emphasized that it is aimed at strengthening the accountability framework that governs Liberia’s natural resource concessions.
“We expect full cooperation,” Momo said. “There are several areas where companies delay in compliance, but we are hopeful that MOPP and CRC will work with us fully during this process.”
According to the NBC, the review process includes detailed on-site assessments of company operations, community consultations, verification of financial and labor records, environmental compliance checks, and dialogues with company management and workers’ unions.
The Bureau’s objective, Director Momo noted, is not only to assess how faithfully the companies are implementing their contractual obligations, but also to understand the real-life implications of their activities for the communities in which they operate.
Director Momo underscored that the participation of local residents is essential to the success of the evaluation. “We want community members to speak truthfully and without fear. The issues they face on a daily basis — be it land disputes, labor concerns, environmental damage, or unmet development commitments —must be brought to light,” he said. “This review is about more than paperwork. It’s about the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Liberians.”
In what he called “a new dawn” for corporate-government-community relations, Director Momo urged all parties to view the NBC’s visit as a constructive opportunity to address long-standing grievances and bridge trust gaps.
“Our aim is to foster a culture of transparency, fairness, and corporate responsibility. This process is not to embarrass anyone but to ensure that everyone — companies, government, and citizens — benefits equitably from these investments,” he said.
The NBC team is not working alone. The Bureau is conducting the compliance review in partnership with representatives from several key government agencies that have operational jurisdiction in Maryland County, including the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ministry of Labour, and the Liberian National Police.
According to Director Momo, the collaboration with these institutions is critical to ensuring that the assessment reflects the full scope of operational realities on the ground.
“These institutions are represented locally and have firsthand knowledge of the operations of these concessions. Their insights are critical to the success of our assessment,” he explained.
Although the NBC does not have direct enforcement authority, Director Momo confirmed that the Bureau’s findings and recommendations would be submitted to the Office of the President and relevant ministries for appropriate action. “Our job is to gather facts and provide a full report. Where necessary, recommendations will be made for appropriate government actions,” he stated.
The scope of the evaluation, according to the NBC Director, primarily covers the operational period between 2020 and 2025. However, the team may expand its review to include prior years dating back to the original concession agreements signed in 2011 if significant issues related to finance, environmental damage, or legal non-compliance are discovered.
“We are covering every key area of concern,” Momo stated. “Our experts are actively engaging community members, reviewing company financial records, assessing environmental impacts, and evaluating human resource practices.”
The Bureau has already initiated stakeholder meetings and deployed its officers to various field locations across Maryland County. In addition to formal interviews and document reviews, the team is also collecting environmental samples, speaking with displaced farmers, and documenting issues raised by local authorities and traditional leaders.
Residents in surrounding towns and villages have expressed cautious optimism about the NBC’s presence, with several community members stating that they hope the evaluation will bring long-overdue redress to issues such as land compensation, pollution, and unfulfilled corporate social responsibility (CSR) promises.
The NBC’s latest intervention is part of a larger national initiative to improve oversight of Liberia’s concession sector, a sector that includes mining, forestry, and agriculture and plays a major role in the national economy. Over the past decade, disputes over land rights, inadequate social benefits, and environmental degradation have plagued relations between concessionaires and rural communities.
Director Momo assured citizens that the NBC remains committed to upholding the rule of law and advancing the public interest. “This is about fairness, about justice, and about national development,” he said. “When concessionaires honor their obligations and government monitors effectively, everybody wins.”
The NBC is expected to remain in Maryland County for several days, after which it will compile a comprehensive report outlining its findings, identifying areas of compliance and violation, and recommending specific measures to improve performance and accountability going forward.
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