THE 1986 LIBERIA Constitution squarely places on the laps of the President of the Republic of Liberia all appointing powers to choose at his will and pleasure any qualified Liberian to a given position in the government. According to Article 56 a), “All cabinet ministers, deputy and assistant cabinet ministers, ambassadors, ministers and consuls, superintendents of counties and other government officials, both military and civilian, appointed by the President pursuant to this Constitution shall hold their offices at the pleasure of the President.”
AND, ONE LIBERIAN who fits in exactly with what the Constitution says about the President appointing at his/her will and pleasure officials of government is the Chairman of the National Investment Commission (NIC), Mr. Jeff Blibo.
IN OCTOBER 2024, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai issued Executive Order #136 that spoke of ‘multi-user rail regime’ in Liberia. The President in rallying development partners and his cabinet to work toward Liberia’s development stated: “Liberia would adopt a Multi-user rail regime, with infrastructure owned by the state, governed by the National Railway Authority (NRA), and operated independently of an infrastructure user, to allow all railing concession companies to use the Liberia’s railroads line.” Executive Order #136 raised the hope of concession companies engaging in railing in Liberia, encouraging them to increase their investment and production capacity, with the belief that there will be a “Multi-user rail regime”.
PRESIDENT BOAKAI’S EXECUTIVE Order #136 may have stemmed from interest by Ivanhoe Atlantic to use Liberia’s rails to transport iron ore being explored in neighboring Guinea. Ivanhoe Atlantic is a subsidiary of High-Power Exploration (HPX), owned by Robert Friedland. HPX is a US firm. Ivanhoe had proposed the US$5 billion Liberty Corridor project to enhance regional transportation and mining logistics.
BUT CONTRARY TO the President’s Executive Order #136, the Chairman of the National Investment Commission (NIC) Jeff Blibo did the unthinkable for reasons best known to himself and in complete disregard of the Liberian leader’s office. Chairman Blibo unilaterally wrote letter against the interests of Ivanhoe Atlantic Liberia, which is negotiating with the Government of Liberia over the use of the railway from the mountains of Nimba to the port of Buchanan on the Atlantic Ocean.
IN JEFF’S LETTER, he committed exclusively a 100% right of usage of the railway to ArcelorMittal Liberia, which has invested millions of dollars on the rail’s renovation. Jeff informed ArcelorMittal Liberia and Ivanhoe Atlantic, that the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC) had “unanimously decided” to grant AML continued operational control over the Yekepa-to-Buchanan railway for an additional 25 years. This didn’t go down well with Jeff’s other colleagues in the IMCC, including the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of State, and the Sector-specific Ministry/Agency/Commission (Ministry of Agriculture for agriculture-related projects, Ministry of Lands & Mines for mining and energy-related projects, etc).
EXECUTIVE MANSION SOURCES said that Jeff without consulting with the President or his colleagues in the Inter-Ministerial Concession Committee (IMCC), wrote and designated ArcelorMittal Liberia as the operator of the existing Yekepa-Buchanan Railway Line. When this came to the President’s attention, he immediately reversed Jeff’s action and promised a stern repercussion against him and everyone else involved.
ACCORDING TO EXECUTIVE Mansion sources, on Tuesday, May 6, the President called an emergency meeting in which he was pissed at Jeff. It is said that he scolded Jeff for gross insubordination and disregard for his Office. “Jeff was asked why he wrote the letter. He was very visibly embarrassed and ashamed. He said the letter wasn’t intended to be sent out. What a lie! Because the letter was eventually sent to AML,” one of the sources said.
IT IS UNCLEAR whether money exchanged hands but sources hinted this outlet that the Executive Mansion has heard that Jeff was “heftily bribed”. This source didn’t say by whom neither did they say how much exchanged hands. Another of the source said that they had heard that he was compromised by AML. But of these allegations are yet to be proven against Jeff or AML.
HOWEVER, JEFF’s ACTION is said to have angered the Americans who have vested interests in the multi-user’s arrangement of the rail. Before Jeff wrote his letter, President Donald Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, through the US Embassy, in April 2025, praised President Boakai for making progress in establishing a multi-user railway.
“RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE IS key to sustainable development. In Liberia, President Boakai is making progress in establishing a multi-user railway managed by an independent operator which will create new economic opportunities for Liberia’s people and attract U.S. investors. The U.S. endorses his initiative and urges all parties involved to make a deal quickly,” Boulos said.
WE AT THE Liberian Post call on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to keenly monitor the workings of those public officials that he appointed into his government, judging from the latest embarrassment caused his office by the Chairman of the National Investment Commission, Jeff Blibo. If indeed the rumors that Jeff was heavily bribed is confirmed the President must take the appreciate action to raid his government of such characters.
JEFF’S DISREGARD FOR the President’s Office comes at the time when most of the world is now moving with the mantra “Country First.” But the NIC Chairman totally ignored this and willfully awarded a priced national asset to a single company against the national interests of Liberia and her most important ally— the United States of America. By this, he has self-destroyed and made himself his own gallows.
MR. PRESIDENT, LET the Jeff Blibo’s tale at the NIC be a lesson to learn from as there are several Jeff Blibos in your government and are doing things outside of your knowledge for personal gains to the detriment of the government and the Liberian people. Your Chief of Staff, who is the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs must be on top of his game in monitoring the workings of your officials that contrary to the goals and aspiration of your government’s development agenda, Mr. President.
SET AN EXAMPLE, Mr. President on Jeff Blibo for his blatant disregard of your Office. We urge you to put country first by dealing with Jeff which will serve as deterrent for public officials who may be thinking of engaging in unscrupulous activities contrary to the agenda of your government and the state. This is our plea, Mr. President.
