MONROVIA, Liberia — Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, toured the BAO CHICO Pier facility currently under construction in Royesville Township, Montserrado County, as part of his Administration’s broader effort to directly monitor major infrastructure investments aimed at strengthening Liberia’s maritime and logistics capacity.
According to an Executive Mansion release, the visit forms part of the President’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that large-scale infrastructure projects enhance trade facilitation, expand access to modern port services, and generate meaningful employment opportunities for Liberians. During the tour, President Boakai received detailed briefings from project managers and relevant government officials on the scope of work, the level of completion, and the project’s anticipated economic impact once fully operational.
The BAO CHICO Pier Facility, when completed, is expected to improve port services in Montserrado County and surrounding areas, reduce pressure on existing port infrastructure, and support private sector growth by providing additional maritime handling capacity.
Balancing Investment With Public Safety
Speaking briefly with journalists following the inspection, President Boakai underscored that while BAO CHICO represents a potentially viable economic investment, its operations must be carefully aligned with national safety standards and public infrastructure use.
“Bao Chico is a viable economic operation in Liberia, but they are also users of our major roads and facilities,” the President said. “I want to see how their operations will work in a way that provides safety to the public while still allowing them to operate efficiently for the benefit of both the company and the country.”
He emphasized that infrastructure projects of this nature must be executed with quality, transparency, and strict adherence to agreed timelines, stressing that investments should translate into tangible benefits for ordinary Liberians rather than pose risks to public safety or disrupt daily life.
Background of Permit Suspension and Public Debate
The President’s visit comes against the backdrop of earlier controversies surrounding Bao Chico’s operations in Liberia. At one point, the company’s operational permit was suspended by the Government following concerns over regulatory compliance, environmental safeguards, and the impact of heavy-duty trucking on public roads in Montserrado County.
Those developments sparked public debate, with residents and civil society actors raising questions about road safety, infrastructure damage, and whether regulatory oversight was sufficiently robust to match the scale of the company’s industrial activities.
Asked whether Bao Chico’s operations have since been fully restored, President Boakai indicated that such determinations rest with the relevant line ministries and regulatory agencies, noting that his role was to observe firsthand how government coordination could ensure both safety and efficiency.
“We have people in other respective areas who are responsible for that, and they will be working on it,” the President said.
Economic Promise and Oversight
Bao Chico’s investment in Liberia is part of a broader private-sector push into industrial and port-related infrastructure, with the Royesville pier intended to serve as a dedicated loading and off-loading facility. Proponents argue that the project could enhance export logistics, reduce congestion at existing ports, and create jobs during construction and operations.
However, the President made clear that such economic promise must be matched with accountability. He stressed that coordination among ministries responsible for transport, public works, commerce, and environmental protection is essential to ensure that industrial operations coexist responsibly with public infrastructure.
“With construction work expected on major highways, all of these operations have to be streamlined,” President Boakai said. “The goal is to protect the public while ensuring that investments contribute meaningfully to national development.”
A Clear Policy Signal
Accompanied by senior government officials and private sector representatives, the President’s Royesville tour sends a clear signal that Liberia remains open to investment, but not at the expense of transparency, safety, and the rule of law. As construction of the BAO CHICO Pier Facility continues, public attention will remain focused on regulatory decisions, environmental compliance, and whether the project ultimately delivers on its promise of boosting Liberia’s maritime and logistics capacity while safeguarding community interests.
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