Monrovia, Liberia – The son of Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility has sparked controversy with a veiled online jab at the ruling Unity Party (UP), following public fallout over sweeping reforms to Liberia’s fuel pricing system.
In a cryptic social media post, Lyee Bility wrote:
“Don’t worry Boss. Dogs don’t bark at harmless people. Jobless UP muppets and all say they geh teeth to bweh na oo.”
The statement, interpreted by many as a direct insult aimed at Unity Party supporters, comes just days after the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) announced a major overhaul of fuel pricing structures, prompting strong backlash from political and business leaders, including Lyee’s father.
Under a presidential directive issued by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. on September 3, 2025, the LPRC rolled out a new pricing framework aimed at balancing affordable fuel prices with sustainable infrastructure funding.
According to the directive, effective immediately, fuel importers and terminal operators are now subject to a detailed list of per-gallon fees, including:
Storage Fees (All Terminals): $0.05
Road Fund (Liberia Revenue Authority): $0.30
Support for Counties’ Roads Equipment (LRA): $0.09
Government Social Program: $0.02
Inspectorate and Maintenance Fee (LPRC): $0.06
Vessel Discharge Fees (LPRC): $0.08
Testing Handling Fees (LPRC): $0.07
Importers’ Margin: $0.14
Retailers’ Margin: $0.20
However, the most contentious change involves the reduction of storage fees paid to private petroleum terminals ~ from 35 cents down to just 2 cents per gallon. The move has been condemned by Musa Bility, a prominent businessman and CEO of Srimex Oil and Gas Company, who accused the government of favoring the state-owned LPRC at the expense of local operators.
“This is a deliberate attempt to cripple Liberian entrepreneurs,” Bility said in a press release issued Tuesday. “The government must reverse course and engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders. What we are seeing here is not reform ~ it’s economic sabotage disguised as policy.”
Bility warned that the new fee structure threatens to undermine energy security, discourage investment, and destroy jobs in an already fragile economy.
As political tensions simmer, Lyee Bility’s remarks have only added fuel to the fire, drawing both criticism and applause across social media platforms.
The ongoing debate underscores the widening rift between the Boakai administration and segments of the business community, as the government pursues reforms aimed at funding public services without burdening consumers.
Whether the administration will heed calls to revisit the policy remains to be seen. For now, the rhetoric ~ both online and on the ground ~ continues to intensify.
