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ADNews-Monrovia, Liberia: The government of Liberia is nearing the creation of the National Rail Authority (NRA), a landmark step toward developing a modern, multi-user rail network intended to drive economic transformation and strengthen national sovereignty over critical infrastructure.
The initiative is anchored in Executive Order 153, through which President Joseph Boakai reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to establishing a fair and transparent rail access system that supports mining, agriculture, forestry, and other sectors.
A Vision for Modern Rail Governance
Under the proposed framework, the NRA would function as an independent regulator with authority to set rail access rules, oversee train operations, enforce compliance, and ensure sustainable management of Liberia’s rail assets. The administration says the goal is to institutionalize a technically competent, permanent body that can manage the country’s rail corridors in line with global best practices.
Executive Order 153 underscores the strategic importance of railway infrastructure for national development, regional trade, and global competitiveness. It reiterates that rail assets will remain under full sovereign ownership of the Liberian state, though the government will be supported by an international team tasked with designing the Authority’s institutional structure, financing models, multi-user access systems, and climate-resilience safeguards.
If implemented, this would mark the first time Liberia’s rail network is overseen by experienced industry professionals rather than concessionaires.
Unlocking Economic Potential
The economic promise of a national rail authority is substantial. Former Mines and Energy Minister Wilmot Paye recently estimated that the Yekepa–Buchanan corridor alone sits atop 17 billion tonnes of iron ore, which he valued at more than US$2.38 trillion at current market prices.
However, officials emphasize that the NRA’s mandate would extend nationwide. In addition to the Yekepa–Buchanan line, the Authority would oversee the Bong Mine Railway and the Mano River Railway, signaling the government’s intention to develop a genuine multi-user, multi-sector transport system capable of moving both freight and passengers.
The establishment of the NRA is a central component of the Boakai administration’s ARREST Agenda, which prioritizes accountability, reconstruction, economic development, and investment in national infrastructure.
Legislative Action Pending
The legislation to formally establish the National Rail Authority is now before the Legislature and awaits ratification.
At the same time, lawmakers are reviewing Ivanhoe Liberia’s proposed Concession and Access Agreement. That agreement would introduce an additional user to the Yekepa–Buchanan rail and port corridor, a step seen as moving Liberia closer to realizing the multi-user system envisioned in Executive Order 153.
Government officials and industry analysts say the NRA, once enacted, could become one of the most transformative infrastructure reforms in Liberia’s modern history.
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