Monrovia- In a move to safe face after embarrassing the Office of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, the Chairman of the National Investment Commission, Jeff Blibo, has surrendered and withdrawn letters sent to two major investors in Liberia, ArcelorMittal and Ivanhoe Atlantic, that were contrary and disobedient to the President’s explicit policy that is tailored to Liberia transitioning to a multi-user rail system with an Independent Operator after 2030.
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 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.
Following public backlashes and public outcries, NIC Chairman Jeff Blibo in a letter to Ivanhoe Atlantic as revealed the National Investment Commission (NIC) sources and confirmed by officials at the Executive Mansion as authentic, Mr. Jeff Blibo, withdrawn letters sent to two major investors — ArcelorMittal and Ivanhoe Atlantic.
In his May 6 withdrawal letter to Ivanhoe Atlantic, addressed to its CEO and copied to the members of the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC), Mr. Blibo writes, “the IMCC has withdrawn the letter dated April 30, 2025, concerning the designation of ArcelorMittal Liberia as the rail operator.” The letter adds that “The President is clear in his directive, the Government remains committed to the appointment of a rail operator for the Yekepa-Buchanan railway corridor, in accordance with Executive Order 136.”
He further writes, “To ensure a smooth transition, the Government — through the National Rail Authority — will in line with the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA), initiate a competitive process to select a rail operator prior to the expiration of AML’s current Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) in 2030.”
It can be recalled NIC Chairman Blibo, without the knowledge of President Boakai and Cabinet Ministers from Mines and Energy, Transport, Justice and Finance, unilaterally sent out letters that were contrary to the current policy directive of the Liberian Chief Executive and widely supported by the US Government and other international stakeholders.
Many pundits have called on President Boakai to take stern action, including dismissal of the NIC Chairman, Jeff Blibo for disrespecting and unilaterally sending out letters to the major investors t rail usage without the knowledge and approval of the President.
