By: Gegee Brima
MONROVIA, Liberia – The deployment of 285 earth-moving machines under the government’s nationwide road rehabilitation initiative has reached approximately 95 percent completion, with authorities expecting the remaining equipment to arrive in Grand Cape Mount County ahead of the project’s official launch on Monday.
Hon. Brownie J. Samukai disclosed the latest progress during a press briefing at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), announcing that the final deployment team was expected to reach the county’s border by 11 a.m. on Saturday.
According to Samukai, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is expected to officially launch the initiative on Monday at 9 a.m. The ceremony will be broadcast through the Liberia Broadcasting System and other communication platforms, making it accessible to citizens across all 15 counties.
Following the presidential launch, the equipment is expected to commence its initial six-week operational phase, which will run through the end of December.
Samukai explained that preparations for the initiative have included the recruitment, training and deployment of personnel responsible for coordinating and supervising activities across the country.
He disclosed that 15 county coordinators, assistant coordinators, data collectors and regional monitors had completed a five-day training program in Monrovia before being assigned to their respective locations.
The monitoring arrangement, he said, is designed to establish accountability at multiple levels, with county monitors expected to supervise the performance of county coordinators and ensure that the machines are deployed according to the project’s objectives.
The 285 machines will operate from 19 designated hubs nationwide. Samukai identified Lofa, Bong, Nimba and Grand Bassa as four counties receiving two operational hubs each, explaining that the additional locations accounted for the assignment of assistant coordinators.
Addressing concerns and reports surrounding the movement of some logistical equipment, Samukai dismissed suggestions that low-bed trailers, fuel trucks and other supporting equipment were missing from their designated locations.
He clarified that low-bed trailers and tractor heads were initially used to transport the earth-moving machines from a central assembly point in Monrovia to various counties. After completing those assignments, the transportation equipment was returned to facilitate the movement of machinery to other locations.
He further explained that fuel trucks had temporarily returned to Monrovia for refilling before being dispatched to their respective counties.
Samukai disclosed that 19 fuel tankers and 19 low-bed trailers were in Monrovia at the time of his briefing and were expected to begin returning to their assigned counties on Friday. He anticipated that all supporting equipment would be back at their respective bases by the end of the week, barring unforeseen mechanical problems.
On accountability and supervision, Samukai said the government would employ a geospatial monitoring system to track the movement and utilization of the machines.
The technology is expected to provide information on operating hours, identify equipment that remains inactive and detect any machinery moved outside its assigned county without authorization.
He encouraged journalists and media institutions to take an active interest in monitoring the initiative, stressing the importance of ensuring that the equipment is used for its intended purpose and delivers tangible benefits to communities.
Regarding the financial implications of the project, Samukai urged the public to consider the operational demands associated with maintaining and running a fleet of 285 heavy-duty machines.
He used an estimated daily consumption of 50 gallons of fuel per machine to illustrate the potential fuel requirements, while noting that road rehabilitation would involve additional construction needs, including the installation of culverts and the construction of bridges in certain locations.
Samukai also clarified that decisions regarding the selection of roads for rehabilitation would be made at the county level.
He said the prioritization process should involve collaboration among county political leaders, elected officials, engineers assigned by the Ministry of Public Works and the respective county coordinators to ensure that communities’ most pressing road needs receive attention.
Additionally, he disclosed that more than 400 Liberians had secured employment opportunities through the initiative and were undergoing orientation in preparation for the commencement of field operations.
The nationwide deployment of the yellow machines represents a major component of the government’s efforts to improve road connectivity, facilitate transportation and address longstanding infrastructure challenges across Liberia’s 15 counties.
With deployment nearing completion, public attention is now expected to shift toward the project’s implementation, transparency and the extent to which the equipment will improve road conditions in rural and urban communities.
