After nearly eight months without service along one of southeastern Liberia’s most critical transit corridors, the National Transit Authority (NTA) has announced plans to resume bus operations between Pleebo and Harper in Maryland County.
The route, which has been dormant since December 2023, left thousands of commuters stranded and dependent on expensive private taxis or sporadic transportation options. According to NTA Deputy Managing Director for Administration, Togar Melvin Cephas, the two buses designated for the Pleebo–Harper route are currently undergoing repairs and will return to service in the coming days.
“Our teams of mechanics are working diligently to restore these vehicles,” Cephas said. “In the coming days, we will resume the route between Pleebo and Harper.”
The timing of the breakdown coincided with the transition to the Boakai-Kung administration in January 2024. President Joseph Boakai, in his inaugural address, criticized the inherited state of Liberia’s transport infrastructure, calling it “not the desire of the Liberian people.”
The resumption of service comes as part of a broader transportation overhaul spearheaded by the Boakai administration. In April 2025, the government announced the acquisition of 55 new buses, with 35 allocated for inter-county routes. The procurement is part of a larger initiative that includes a forthcoming delivery of 300 buses from Ghana, previewed by two sample units received from Brazilian manufacturer Marcopolo in mid-2024.
For residents of Maryland County, the return of the buses is not just about mobility ~ it’s a vital economic and social link. The ongoing rainy season has worsened road conditions and driven up the cost of basic commodities. A 25kg bag of imported rice now sells for as much as L$3,550, putting further strain on households already grappling with transportation woes.
Local leaders and civil society groups are calling for more than a temporary fix. “Our people are suffering,” said Thomas B. Wollo, head of a Pleebo-based civil society organization. “We need more than promises—we need buses on the road and fares that reflect the reality of our communities.”
As the Boakai-Kung administration presses forward with its “Rescue Mission,” the revival of the Pleebo–Harper route is being closely watched as a test of the government’s ability to deliver tangible change, particularly in historically marginalized regions.
For Maryland County, long overlooked in national planning efforts, the return of NTA buses could mark the beginning of a more connected and equitable future.
