MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) in collaboration with the World Bank, concluded a one-day validation session for the newly drafted Zoning Act of Liberia on Monday, October 21, 2024. The law is expected to be signed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Tuesday, October 22, before being submitted to the 55th Legislature for ratification.
At the event, Public Works Minister Roland Layfette Giddings emphasized the importance of the new zoning law in addressing Liberia’s long-standing urban planning issues. He noted that, once passed, the law will fill gaps in the country’s outdated zoning regulations and lay the groundwork for improved city planning and infrastructure development.
“With the enactment of this zoning law, we will begin transforming the landscape of cities across Liberia, starting with Monrovia. This requires all of us to work collaboratively to ensure proper urban planning,” Minister Giddings said.
Giddings highlighted the critical role of urban planning in fostering economic growth, ensuring environmental sustainability, and improving public health and safety. He stressed that the new law would also help mitigate issues like noise pollution and ensure more orderly development in Liberia’s growing urban areas.
The Draft Zoning Act is part of the Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP), a World Bank-funded initiative designed to address the weaknesses in Liberia’s current zoning regulations, which date back to 1958. The new law will promote more efficient land management and help resolve the zoning challenges that have hindered Liberia’s urban development for decades.
The project, which operates under the theme “Building Resilient Cities,” is being implemented by the MPW in partnership with several government ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). The Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), Paynesville City Corporation (PCC), Liberia Land Authority, and the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services are also key stakeholders in the initiative.
Discussion about this post