MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia has formally reaffirmed its commitment to the 2018 Concession Agreement with Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LTMI), while simultaneously invoking a review process that could reshape the future of vehicle registration and driver licensing in the country. The development follows mounting public debate and legislative concern over the outsourcing of critical transport functions.
In a letter dated February 16, 2026, from the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs at the Executive Mansion in Monrovia, Minister Samuel A. Stevquoah communicated the government’s intention to revisit key provisions of the agreement. Addressed to LTMI Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Darwich, the letter underscored that while the government remains committed to the concession’s intent, spirit, and purpose, certain clauses require reassessment to ensure equity and practicality.
Citing Section 30 of the Concession Agreement, the government formally invoked a review mechanism and called for good-faith negotiations between both parties. To facilitate the process, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has established an Inter-Ministerial Concession Committee (IMCC), chaired by the head of the National Investment Commission, to engage LTMI on issues that may be impeding the agreement’s effective implementation.
According to the communication, the IMCC has broad authority to examine operational, financial, and governance concerns tied to the concession. The committee is expected to pass upon a wide range of matters deemed necessary to safeguard national interests while preserving investor confidence.
Notably, the government announced that, pending deliberations and negotiations, all operations at the Ministry of Transport related to the concession, except those of the Inspectorate Division, would be affected. Though the letter did not explicitly state a full suspension, the move signals a significant recalibration of the outsourcing arrangement.
The government maintained that it remains optimistic about the partnership’s potential to modernize Liberia’s traffic management infrastructure, enhance road safety, and improve service delivery nationwide. Officials emphasized that any review process would aim at strengthening efficiency while ensuring compliance with national laws.
However, the concession has drawn sharp criticism from Capitol Hill. Senator Momo Tarnuekollie Cyrus, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense, Security, Intelligence and Veterans Affairs, has called for the immediate suspension of the outsourcing decision. In a statement issued in Monrovia, he described the transfer of vehicle registration and driver licensing from the Ministry of Transport to LTMI as a governance misstep with far-reaching implications.
Cyrus argued that vehicle registration and licensing constitute core sovereign functions because they involve sensitive personal, biometric, and vehicular data. He warned that transferring such systems to what he described as a foreign-controlled operator weakens statutory order and exposes Liberia to national security vulnerabilities.
The senator further cautioned that outsourcing identity-linked databases and vehicle movement records creates accountability gaps at a time when Liberia faces emerging transnational threats. He referenced growing cyber-enabled financial crimes and illicit telecommunications activities across West Africa, suggesting that digital infrastructure is increasingly being exploited by international criminal networks.
According to Cyrus, recent security assessments point to heightened risks associated with external control of national databases. He stressed that such data systems must remain under direct state authority to prevent breaches that could compromise public safety and law enforcement coordination.
Beyond security concerns, fiscal implications have also come under scrutiny. The Senate committee alleged that the concession allows the operator to retain a disproportionate share of revenues generated from registration and licensing services. If accurate, Cyrus argued, this could lead to revenue leakage and undermine the government’s ability to reinvest in transport safety and institutional development.
Employment concerns have further complicated the controversy. Reports indicate that more than 200 Liberian professionals may have been displaced following the operational transfer. Cyrus described this as a setback to local capacity-building efforts in a sector intrinsically tied to public trust and national security.
While acknowledging the importance of maintaining investor confidence, the senator insisted that statutory governance and sovereign control must take precedence. “Lawful contracts and strong institutions,” he emphasized, “form the foundation for sustainable investment, not the other way around.”
The Senate committee has now called for a comprehensive legislative and security review of the concession. This proposed review would examine the legal basis of the transfer, fiscal arrangements, data protection safeguards, employment impacts, and broader implications for national security.
