Liberia Secures $16 Million Japanese Grant to Rebuild Key Monrovia Port Road

Japan Tokyo: The Government of Liberia has signed a 2.45 billion Japanese yen grant agreement (approximately $16 million) with the Government of Japan to rehabilitate a major roadway linking the Freeport of Monrovia to central Monrovia, officials confirmed Friday.

The agreement was finalized in Tokyo, Japan, and will finance the reconstruction of the Freeport–Gabriel Tucker Bridge corridor, a 1.9-kilometer urban arterial road widely considered one of the capital’s most important commercial transport routes.

The corridor serves as a critical gateway connecting Liberia’s main seaport to major commercial and economic areas of the city, making it essential for the movement of goods and services within the capital.

Liberia’s Deputy Minister for Technical Services at the Ministry of Public Works, Prince Tambah, signed the agreement after a week of technical meetings with officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Eight-Japan Engineering Consultants Inc.

Under the agreement, Dai Nippon Construction will undertake the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the dual-carriageway corridor leading to the Gabriel Tucker Bridge.

According to the Ministry of Public Works, the contractor is expected to mobilize to Liberia in May, with full construction scheduled to begin in July 2026. The project is projected to take approximately 26 months to complete.

Officials say the project is designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve the efficient movement of goods between the Freeport of Monrovia and commercial districts across the capital.

The rehabilitation will also address long-standing flooding problems along the corridor, which frequently disrupt transportation during the rainy season.

The road upgrade is expected to significantly improve drainage infrastructure, road durability, and transport efficiency, strengthening logistics operations connected to the port.

The entire project is being financed through a grant from the Government of Japan, highlighting the growing cooperation between Liberia and Japan in infrastructure development.

Deputy Minister Prince Tambah expressed appreciation for Japan’s financial and technical support, describing the project as a major step toward modernizing Liberia’s urban transport network.

He also acknowledged the role of Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, and Liberia’s Ambassador to Japan, Edward Wade Appleton Jr., for helping strengthen diplomatic relations that made the agreement possible.

Officials from the Ministry of Public Works, including Minister Roland Lafette Giddings, were also credited for advancing the project from planning to implementation.

Once completed, the upgraded corridor is expected to improve traffic movement, strengthen port logistics, and support economic activity linked to Liberia’s principal maritime gateway.