President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has formally commissioned Hanson Senu Kiazolu Sr. as Director General of the National Bureau of Concessions (NBC), marking a pivotal moment in Liberia’s renewed effort to reform governance of its natural resources and improve workers’ welfare in one of the country’s most strategically important institutions.
The commissioning ceremony, held in Monrovia, underscored the Boakai administration’s determination to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the management of concessions spanning mining, agriculture, forestry, energy, and infrastructure sectors that collectively underpin Liberia’s economic future.
Liberia’s concessions framework governs investments worth billions of U.S. dollars accumulated over decades, with the extractive and agricultural sectors alone historically contributing a significant share of export earnings, employment, and government revenue.
Yet these same sectors have long faced scrutiny over governance gaps, labor conditions, and uneven benefits for host communities.
Swift Confirmation, Clear Mandate
Hon. Kiazolu’s rise to the role reflects the administration’s push for decisive leadership.
Nominated by President Boakai in late October 2025, he secured Senate confirmation in November with strong bipartisan backing, signaling rare political consensus around the need to stabilize and reform the concessions oversight regime.
He assumed duties on December 1, 2025, and his formal commissioning now launches what officials describe as a new phase for the NBC, an agency tasked with negotiating, monitoring, and enforcing concession agreements that affect millions of Liberians.
Established to protect national interests in large-scale investments, the NBC has historically operated at the intersection of government, multinational corporations, and local communities often under intense public scrutiny.
Early Actions Restore Calm and Confidence
In just over seven weeks, Kiazolu has overseen changes that NBC officials say have already stabilized the institution internally.
According to staff and senior administrators, his early priorities have included:
Restoring workplace stability, following a period marked by internal tension and low morale
Rebuilding staff confidence through open dialogue, inclusive decision-making, and direct engagement
Introducing incentive and performance-based benefits, aimed at improving welfare and productivity
These measures, officials say, have improved operational efficiency and repositioned the NBC as a more responsive and motivated public institution.
“Workers are not just employees; they are the backbone of concessions oversight,” Kiazolu has repeatedly told staff, emphasizing that institutional reform must begin internally before it can deliver national results.
Investing in Capacity and Mobility
Beyond internal reforms, the NBC under Kiazolu is moving to address long-standing logistical challenges that have hindered effective concession monitoring across Liberia’s vast terrain.
Planned procurements include:
A dedicated staff transportation bus, aimed at easing daily commuting challenges
Operational vehicles for the Director General and two deputies, to strengthen field monitoring, compliance checks, and inter-agency coordination
Officials say these investments are essential for an agency responsible for overseeing concessions spread across remote counties, forests, plantations, and mining belts.
Presidential Endorsement and National Vision
At the commissioning ceremony, President Boakai offered a strong public endorsement of Kiazolu’s early performance.
“In just a few weeks, Hanson Kiazolu has restored calm where there was disorder and rebuilt confidence where it had been lost,” President Boakai said.
“The National Bureau of Concessions must be the guardian of Liberia’s resource ensuring they translate into prosperity for every village, town, and city.”
Boakai stressed that concessions must move beyond paper agreements to deliver tangible development outcomes, including jobs, infrastructure, and fair community benefits.
Toward Digital, People-Centered Concessions
In his remarks, Kiazolu reaffirmed his commitment to streamlining concession processes, improving compliance monitoring, and digitizing key systems to reduce bottlenecks and limit opportunities for abuse.
He emphasized that future reforms will prioritize sustainable growth, environmental responsibility, and equitable benefits for host communities long-standing demands from civil society and international partners.
A Critical Test for Liberia’s Reform Agenda
As Liberia enters 2026, analysts say the performance of the NBC will be closely watched by investors, development partners, and citizens alike.
Effective concessions governance is widely seen as essential to unlocking inclusive growth in a country still recovering from years of conflict, health crises, and economic shocks.
With early signs of institutional stabilization and a clear reform agenda, Hanson Kiazolu’s leadership at the NBC represents one of the Boakai administration’s first major tests in translating reform rhetoric into measurable outcomes.
For now, optimism is growing within the bureau and expectations are rising nationwide that Liberia’s vast natural wealth can finally be managed for the benefit of all