Rep. Kwagrue Frowns at Development Drive for Nimba in National Budgets

LIBERIA: Nimba County District #5 Representative, Kortor Kwagrue, has expressed disappointment over what he called neglect of Nimba County in National Budget processes despite contributing immensely to the country's revenue generation.

Speaking recently during the deliberations on the Draft National Budget for Fiscal Year 2026, Representative Kwagrue disclosed that US$200 million of the proposed US$1.2 billion national budget is derived from ArcelorMittal, whose iron-ore operations are anchored in the Nimba Mountain range.

However, he decried that none of Nimba’s six major cities have reliable electricity. “Nimba County is contributing massively to this country, but our people are sitting in darkness".

“Two hundred million dollars is coming from ArcelorMittal in Nimba, and yet not a single city in this county can enjoy stable light", he said.

The lawmaker claimed that the US$200 million signature bonus generated from the Mount Nimba concession is shared between the Executive and the Legislature, pushing the national budget to the milestone US$1.2 billion.

“The signature bonus from Mount Nimba goes to the President and the Legislature, but the people who live with the mines see nothing,” he said. “How do you explain that the source of the money is left behind?”

He warned that Nimba’s mineral wealth is not endless, stressing that the long-term welfare of citizens must be prioritized before it is too late. “Years from now, these mountains will be gone,” he cautioned. “When the iron ore is finished, what will the people of Nimba have to show for it?”

Describing Nimba as one of Liberia’s economic lifelines, the District 5 representative insisted that the county’s contribution to national revenue has helped keep the country afloat, yet development remains a challenge.

“Nimba is one of the counties that brings Liberia to where it is today,” Kwagrue asserted. But when it comes to benefiting from the national budget, we are treated like we don’t matter.”

While acknowledging that ArcelorMittal provides Social Development Funds (SDF) to counties where it operates, Kwagrue maintained that corporate social responsibility cannot replace government obligation.

“Social development funds are not enough,” he said. “Nimba must benefit directly from the national budget because Nimba is directly financing that budget.”

The Nimba County District #5 Lawmaker underscored the huge revenue potential of the county, citing income from major businesses, commercial stores, and the bustling Liberia–Guinea border trade, but questioned how these revenues can be sustained without electricity.

“Ganta alone is generating serious revenue for this country,” he noted.

“But businesses are operating in darkness, without protection, without power, and without any return on the taxes they pay.”

Rep. Kwagrue concluded with a stark warning, saying Nimba’s business community is under threat while government continues to collect revenue without reinvesting in basic infrastructure.

“Our businesses are at serious risk,” he said. “They pay taxes, they generate revenue, but they receive no benefit. This is unfair, and it must change.”

His remarks have reignited national debate over resource justice, regional equity, and whether Liberia’s wealth-producing counties are truly benefiting from the riches beneath their soil.