Monrovia, Liberia – The Ministry of Transport has successfully intervened to end a nationwide go-slow action staged by commercial drivers, paving the way for the full resumption of public transport services across Liberia.
The protest, which disrupted major transportation routes and left hundreds of commuters stranded over the past several days, was sparked by commercial drivers’ frustration over what they described as excessive ticketing and the proliferation of security checkpoints—particularly during night hours.
According to the drivers, the Liberia National Police (LNP) had been issuing tickets with inflated fines, some allegedly far exceeding reasonable amounts. Drivers also lamented that an increasing number of checkpoints along major highways were delaying travel and affecting their livelihoods.
Responding swiftly, the Ministry of Transport, through its Division for Land Transport, convened an emergency meeting with leaders of various commercial drivers’ unions. The discussions were led by Director of Land Transport Mr. Jaspad White, Deputy Minister for Land and Rail Transport Hon. Rudolph Natt, and Assistant Minister Mr. Zunu Duyann.
The Ministry then facilitated a crucial follow-up meeting between the drivers’ representatives and the leadership of the Liberia National Police at LNP Headquarters in Monrovia. There, key agreements were reached.
The Inspector General of Police assured all stakeholders that no officer will issue violation tickets exceeding twenty United States dollars (US$20). The LNP also agreed to scale down the number of nighttime checkpoints to ensure smoother traffic flow.
Deputy Minister Natt praised both the police and the drivers’ unions for their cooperation and commitment to resolving the matter through dialogue. “We thank the Liberia National Police for responding positively and the commercial drivers for resuming services in the interest of the public,” he stated.
Assistant Minister Zunu Duyann called the resolution “a new beginning in government-driver cooperation,” emphasizing the Ministry’s intent to maintain open channels of communication and prevent future disruptions.
With the dispute resolved, commercial vehicles have begun returning to the roads, restoring much-needed transport services across Monrovia, inter-county highways, and rural regions.
The Ministry of Transport reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring safe, fair, and efficient road transport operations and urged both drivers and law enforcement to maintain mutual respect and professionalism in serving the Liberian people.
