President George Weah is expected to dedicate the newly constructed Duala Market on January 20, 2022.
However, the National Road Fund (NRF) quoting a World Bank study says Liberia needs US$2.5 billion to pave about 13, 000 kilometers of roads nationwide.
The narrative may have changed since the study was done in 2016 as this regime is prioritizing roads construction which have witnessed new roads being constructed as well as several others are undergoing rehabilitation and more are beginning to be upgraded.
The Head of the Road Fund, Boniface Sartu, told the media recently in Monrovia that roads construction is very costly and that is causing the government to go into extra expenditure.
He said to construct new roads alone, the government needs between US$800 million to US$1 billion because roads bring about economic growth for the development of every nation.
Sartu, among many things, stated that as the government has prioritized roads construction, there is a need to increase revenue by five percent but the toll system will have to be used.
The NRF boss stated that in spite of the challenge of task financing, they are doing their best in whatever way possible as they are working for their country.
“NRF is part of 34 African Countries which are geared toward improving their economies because roads are the backbone of any development of any nation,” Sartu noted.
He indicated that for the past 4 years, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) on behalf of the Fund collected about US$80 million.
“This money has been raised or collected by the LRA through the fuel levy of 25 cents imposed on each gallon of petrol by motorists, driver license and others,” Sartu said.
He then named NRF’s board members chaired by the Public Works Ministry and included Internal Affairs, Finance and Development Planning, Commerce and Transport Ministries.
In her early statement, the Public Works Ministry stated that the government has secured some US$20 million grant from the Japanese Government for reconstruction and expansion of stretch between the Gabriel Tucker to the St. Paul Bridges known as ‘bridge to bridge.’
Minister Ruth Coker-Collins said the US$20 million grant will be used from the Gabriel Tucker Bridge to the Freeport of Monrovia while the from the Freeport of the St. Paul Bridge will be financed by the government through the road fund.
She assured that beginning this next month, February, the Tucker Bridge to Freeport of Monrovia roads project will start.