By Alex Prince Johnson
Correspondent, Maryland
Maryland County, Liberia — Commuters are up in arms over the Liberia National Transit Authority’s (NTA) sudden and incremental fare adjustments on the Monrovia–Maryland route, accusing the agency of abandoning its mandate to provide reliable and affordable transport services for Liberians.
Since its launch, the NTA has jacked up its Monrovia-to-Maryland fare three times: first adjusting to LRD 3500; then jumping unexpectedly to LRD 4,500, and most recently settling at LRD 5,500. Each step has been met with public outrage from local residents especially commuters plying via the Monrovia-Maryland route. These unexpected increases have severely impacted household budgets and undermined the government’s previous pledge of accessible and affordable public transport.
“LRD 5,500 is a slap in the face to ordinary people. It costs almost the same as the private taxis charging LRD 6,000 to LRD 6,500,” said Pleebo motorist Adam Tugbe. “How is this fair? We welcomed the NTA at LRD 3500, thinking it would be a public service, not a money grab.”
Rachel Nagbe, a daily commuter from Harper District, added, “Waiting for NTA buses is already a time drain. Now we’re forced to pay more than ever for buses that run half-empty. I’d rather pay LRD 5,000 straight to a taxi and save my sanity.”
Critics argue the NTA’s unpredictable pricing undermines President Joseph Boakai’s stated goal of affordable transport, and they’re demanding government intervention. “If the NTA cannot stabilize its rates, then what’s the point of a national transit authority?” asked one resident.
Meanwhile, private operators on the same route are maintaining their fares between LRD 6,500 and LRD 7,000, leaving commuters squeezed between unreliable and unaffordable services amid rising prices of basic goods and services.
Commuters and civil society groups are now calling on the Ministry of Transport to enforce a transparent, sustainable, and affordable fare structure—or risk rendering the NTA obsolete.