President Joseph Boakai has directed the Ministry of Transport to shut down its vehicle and driver registration department after those functions were outsourced to foreign firm under highly controversial circumstances.
The presidential decree could result in the layoff of more than 265 employees working the affected section.
The move follows a presidential instruction to Transport Minister Sirleaf Tyler, transferring the department’s functions to Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LTMI), a privately owned Lebanese company.
According to an inter-office memorandum, the Ministry announced that all new motor vehicle and driver license registrations within the Tax Administration and LISTAX systems will be discontinued effective February 28, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.
The shutdown marks the beginning of an administrative transition aimed at ensuring LTMI assumes full responsibility for vehicle registration and driver licensing services.
The Ministry emphasized that the directive is intended to guarantee a seamless transfer of services. However, the decision leaves hundreds of employees jobless starting March, raising concerns about job security and the broader implications of outsourcing public services to private entities.
