The National Transit Authority (NTA) has officially addressed growing public concerns regarding the delay in the arrival of 60 newly procured vehicles, including buses and cargo trucks.
According to the NTA, the delay stems from logistical challenges faced by the shipping company contracted to deliver the fleet.
Speaking at a press briefing, Abayomi T. Santee Jr., Head of Communications and Marketing at the NTA, clarified the circumstances surrounding the delay and assured the public that the agency has fulfilled its obligations under the contract.
“Firstly, we want to apologize to the public for the delay in the arrival of the 60 buses,” said Sampson. “In line with the directive from the Independent Information Commission, we have published all contracts on our website for public viewing.”
The contract in question was signed between the NTA and ABK Corporation in May 2025 and involves the procurement of 35 sixty-two-seated buses, 28 eighteen-seated minibuses, and five cargo trucks.
According to the terms of the agreement, 25 of these vehicles were expected to arrive within three months of signing, by August 2025.
Santee explained that the delay is largely due to complications in the shipping route.
“There have been some delays; according to the contractors, the route that the ship took is causing some problems, and some vessels have had to deviate from the original path,” he stated. “This has led to unforeseen delays in delivery. But from the government’s end, specifically the NTA-we’ve completed all required paperwork and followed proper procedures.”
The total cost of the fleet is approximately USD $3 million.
The Government of Liberia has already made an initial payment of $500,000 on behalf of the NTA.
The remaining $2.5 million will be paid by the agency through a structured installment plan, starting with a $300,000 payment in April 2026 and concluding over a three-year period.
“This is a landmark procurement,” Sampson emphasized. “In previous years, most of our vehicles came through donations. But this particular fleet is fully owned by the NTA.”
He added that the NTA is currently awaiting the bill of lading from ABK Corporation to determine the exact location of the vessel and expected arrival date.
“We are expected to receive a bill of lading from ABK Corporation today,” Sampson said. “Once we receive it, we’ll be able to provide the public with a clear timeline on when the ship will dock and the vehicles will arrive in-country.”
As of press time, the NTA has not confirmed as to whether the bill of lading had not yet been received.
