Africa-Press – Liberia. Senator Albert Chie, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Works and Rural Development, has called for the removal of National Road Fund (NRF) revenues from the government’s Consolidated Account, citing persistent delays in fund disbursement and revenue leakages.
Speaking during the opening of the Liberian Senate’s second quarter session on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Chie said placing NRF collections into the Consolidated Account has made it difficult to access funds in a timely manner for road construction and maintenance projects across the country.
He recommended the establishment of a dedicated escrow account for the NRF, arguing that this would allow for more efficient disbursement and implementation of infrastructure projects.
“The Road Fund envelope, as it stands, is too small to meet the country’s vast infrastructure needs, and the delays caused by the current system only make matters worse,” Chie said.
The Grand Kru County Senator also flagged violations of the 2016 NRF Act, which mandates the collection of US$0.30 cents per gallon of petroleum products imported into Liberia. According to Chie, current practices instead rely on the volume of fuel sold or “lifted,” which he said opens the door to underreporting and shortchanging the fund.
He further revealed that NRF authorities are being denied access to Petroleum Storage Terminals (PSTs), where they could independently verify fuel imports. “These revenue leakages are undermining the road fund’s ability to fulfill its mandate,” he warned.
Highlighting the scale of Liberia’s infrastructure needs, Senator Chie noted that only 1,212 kilometers out of the country’s 13,000-kilometer road network are paved. He estimated that between US$6 billion and US$7 billion would be needed to pave the remaining roads, at an average cost of US$700,000 to US$750,000 per kilometer.
“We’ve always said we must borrow to fix our roads, but we can also use our domestic resources wisely. Proper management of the Road Fund is essential,” he stressed.
Chie urged that road fund allocations be distributed equitably among counties, based on population and geographic size, and reiterated the importance of ensuring that roads are constructed to withstand rainy season conditions.
Meanwhile, the Senator reported ongoing progress on the Ganta-to-Southeast corridor and expressed optimism over the arrival of 285 yellow machines expected to boost roadwork across the country.
He also raised concerns over underperformance by some contractors, particularly one assigned to the Pleebo–Barclayville road in Grand Kru. While the Ministry of Public Works claims 50% of work is complete, local assessments suggest less than 20% has been done.
“The Grand Kru County Legislative Caucus has written to the NRF and the relevant ministries, instructing that no payment be made to the contractor until proper verification is carried out,” Chie concluded.
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