With over 260 employees at the Ministry of Transport at risk of losing their jobs, the Senate Chair on defense, intelligence, and security has written to Plenary, citing the Minister of Justice and the Police Director, Coleman, to provide further clarification on the contract.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Capitol Hill, July 18, 2025: Lofa County Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense, Intelligence, Security, and Veteran Affairs, Momo Cyrus, has written to the Liberian Senate, requesting that the august body summon the Minister of Justice and Police Inspector General Gregory O. Coleman, with the aim of addressing national security concerns.
Sen. Cyrus, in his communication read in open session on Thursday, July 17, 2025, requests Plenary endorsement to invite the Minister of Justice and the Inspector General of Police to address National Security concerns linked to outsourcing Traffic Management Services to the Liberia Traffic Management, Inc., a foreign company.
” In my capacity as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense, Intelligence, Security and Veteran Affairs, and in keeping with the oversight responsibilities assigned to this committee, I respectfully request the endorsement of Plenary to invite the Minister of Justice and Attorney General along with the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police to appear before the Liberian Senate to address mounting national security concerns surrounding the recent outsourcing of core traffic management services to a private, foreign-controlled entity, namely Liberia Traffic Management, Inc. (LTMI).” He noted.
According to him, while efforts to improve traffic efficiency and road safety are commendable, the outsourcing arrangement, which grants LTMI significant authority over vehicle registration, licensing, and enforcement operations, raises several security and sovereignty red flags.
The Lofa County Senator mentioned access to sensitive national data, as the firm may gain unrestricted access to the Biometric and logistical data of vehicle owners and operators nationwide, including government and diplomatic fleets.
He further outlined the chain of Custody risks as a factor, adding that the integration of a foreign-controlled firm into the issuance and authentication of license plates, vehicle tags, and official decals introduces the risk of unauthorized duplication, forgery, and potential sabotage.
“Loss of State Oversight and Command: Delegating enforcement functions, including. Towing and traffic violation enforcement by a private entity blurs the line between state authority and commercial interest, undermining public trust and police legitimacy. Revenue Collection & Accountability: Questions persist regarding the fiscal. Transparency and legal basis of revenue-sharing agreements tied to fines, registration fees, and enforcement surcharges administered by the private firm,” he said.
Sen. Cyrus disclosed that the precedent for Privatizing Core Security Functions is another major negative factor because this move may open the door to future outsourcing of other critical state functions traditionally held under public law enforcement.
“Given the implications of this development, I respectfully request that Plenary authorizes the appearance of the Minister of Justice and the Inspector General of Police before this august body to Present the legal framework under which the outsourcing arrangement was made; Clarify the oversight mechanisms in place to prevent misuse or data leakage,” he noted.
Senator Cyrus assured the Senate that no national security interest or statutory mandate has been compromised.
“Address the scope and limits of LTMI’s operational mandate regarding the Liberia National Police Traffic Division and the Ministry of Transport. The Legislature has a duty to ensure that all public-private partnerships, especially those intersecting with national security, are transparent, constitutional, and non-threatening to state sovereignty. I look forward to Plenary’s approval of this request in the spirit of safeguarding public interest and institutional integrity,” he concluded. -Edited by Othello B. Garblah.
