MONROVIA – The National Investment Commission has moved to address mounting public concerns surrounding the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone project, widely known as SAPZ. In a press release dated February 20, 2026, the Commission sought to clarify issues related to procurement procedures, contract valuation, and local participation in the awarding of a major construction contract under the project.
At the center of the issue are two separate loan agreements signed between the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and the African Development Bank. The loans, valued at UA 13.54 million, were signed on December 6, 2021, and December 8, 2023, and later ratified by the National Legislature on June 3, 2022, and April 7, 2023. By highlighting legislative ratification, the Commission appears intent on reinforcing the legal foundation of the project.
According to the NIC, the SAPZ project is designed to promote inclusive and sustainable agro-industrial development in Liberia. The broader aim is to reduce reliance on imported staple foods, generate employment, alleviate poverty, and stimulate rural economic growth. In a country burdened by heavy food import bills, the project represents a strategic attempt to reposition agriculture as a driver of industrial transformation.
Infrastructure works form a major component of the initiative. The Commission explained that the project includes construction of a 4.27-kilometer access road, a signature gate, site grading, installation of power transmission lines, and perimeter fencing of 210 hectares of land in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. These foundational investments are intended to attract private sector investors to the designated agro-industrial zone.
Public concern, however, intensified over how the construction contract was awarded and the actual financial value involved. Addressing the matter directly, the Commission cited Article VI, Section 6.05 of the Loan Agreement, which mandates the use of the Bank’s procurement methods and procedures. The NIC emphasized that “construction falls under the works category of the project,” and therefore the African Development Bank’s procurement framework was strictly applied in awarding the contract.
An international competitive bidding process was launched in line with the Bank’s guidelines. Twenty-five firms expressed interest, eleven submitted proposals, and five of those were Liberian companies. A Bid Evaluation Committee chaired by the Ministry of Public Works reviewed submissions before forwarding its report to the Bank for a No Objection. Under the Quality and Cost-Based Selection method, HM&A Construction in joint venture with Core Construction Limited was selected based on its lowest evaluated price.
Crucially, the Commission refuted reports claiming the contract was valued at US$19.4 million. Instead, it clarified that the African Development Bank issued its No Objection on June 12, 2025, approving a contract worth US$7,802,746.38 for the construction of the access road, fencing, and gate at the Buchanan SAPZ site. By correcting the figure publicly, the NIC is attempting to dispel allegations of inflated costs and financial misrepresentation.
The issue of local content has also surfaced prominently in public discourse. Given that the selected joint venture includes foreign firms, questions have arisen about opportunities for Liberian businesses and workers. In response, the NIC stated that in collaboration with the Grand Bassa County Administration, it has encouraged the contractor to prioritize locally supplied goods and services and to hire labor from affected communities within the county.
Equally sensitive is the matter of land acquisition and displacement. The Commission reported that a Resettlement Action Plan was fully implemented, with all project-affected persons compensated through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. Seven towns reportedly benefited from payments covering affected properties, farms, sacred sites, and livelihood activities. The government disclosed that a total of US$310,566.00 was disbursed under the RAP scheme.
In closing, the National Investment Commission declared its openness to providing further details and supporting documentation related to the contract award. That commitment to transparency may prove decisive. For a project as ambitious as the SAPZ, one positioned as a catalyst for agro industrial transformation, public confidence will depend not only on infrastructure delivered, but on accountability upheld. In the end, Liberia’s development narrative is shaped not merely by contracts signed, but by trust earned.
