11/08/2026
Robert International airport 25 leasing proposal.
Activist Josephus S. Nimely write...
Liberia has a long history with concession agreements. Some have brought investment, jobs, and infrastructure, while others have been criticized for giving away too much for too little.
For example, the 1926 Firestone concession helped build Liberia's rubber industry and created employment, but many historians have also criticized the agreement because of its long lease, the low rental rate, and the influence it gave a foreign company over Liberia's economy.
More recently, concessions involving our rail and port infrastructure have been presented as opportunities to attract investment and generate revenue, though they have also sparked debate about whether Liberia is receiving a fair return and maintaining adequate control over strategic assets.
Now, the proposed 25-year concession of Roberts International Airport raises similar questions.
Development is important, but so is protecting Liberia's national interest. An international airport is a strategic national asset. Before any agreement is signed, Liberians deserve clear answers:
=Why is a 25-year concession the best option?
= What financial benefits will Liberia receive?
=What protections ensure the airport remains =under effective national oversight?
= How will this agreement improve services, create jobs, and benefit ordinary Liberians?
History teaches us that not every concession is bad but not every concession is good either. The difference lies in transparency, accountability, and whether the agreement truly serves the Liberian people rather than a few individuals.
Liberia deserves development, but it must be development that protects our sovereignty, our economy, and the interests of future generations.
