Published: August 6, 2025
PLEEBO, Maryland County — Commuters in Maryland County are lashing out at the National Transit Authority over a sharp fare hike on the Monrovia–Maryland route, accusing the government-run service of abandoning its public mandate amid deepening economic hardship.
The fare for the cross-country route has surged from L$3,500 to L$5,500 in recent months, sparking widespread outrage among low-income travelers and civil society leaders. Many argue that the NTA, created to offer affordable, government-subsidized transport, is now mirroring the pricing of private taxis, leaving the poor behind.
“L$5,500 is a slap in the face of ordinary people like us,” said Anthony Keita, a 27-year-old commercial motorcyclist. “We once supported the NTA because it gave us hope for affordable government transport. Now it feels like just another business.”
Keita added that private taxis charge between L$6,000 and L$6,500 on the same route, making the NTA fare virtually indistinguishable.
Ruth R. Thompson, a resident of Harper District and daily commuter expresed her frustration: “Waiting for NTA buses is already frustrating,” she said. “Now we’re paying more than ever for buses that often arrive late or half-empty. I’d rather pay L$5,000 to a taxi and get there on time than gamble with NTA.”
Fare Hike Contradicts Boakai’s Transport Agenda
The backlash comes amid growing scrutiny of President Joseph Boakai’s “Rescue Mission” agenda, which promised reliable, accessible transportation for underserved regions. Many say the NTA fare hike runs counter to that pledge.
“If the NTA can’t keep fares affordable, then it has failed its purpose,” said one disgruntled commuter. “Public transport is supposed to help the masses, not compete with private taxis.”
Despite being a state-owned entity, the NTA has remained silent on the fare adjustment, offering no public explanation or plan to address the mounting complaints, particularly from Liberia’s southeast, a region already grappling with decades of infrastructural neglect.
Frustration Boils Over in Pleebo
At a recent bus departure point in Pleebo, more than 100 passengers were left stranded due to a lack of functioning buses, a situation residents say is becoming routine.
Thomas B. Wollo, head of a local civil society group, called on the NTA to reverse the fare hike and deploy more buses along the southeastern route.
“We are urging the NTA to restore the L$3,500 fare, establish a stable fare policy, and assign at least three functioning buses to this corridor,” he said. “Our people are suffering.”
Transportation as a Human Right
Boniface Nyemah, Maryland County monitor for the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, said access to affordable transportation must be treated as a basic human right.
“The government must prioritize rural communities. People here are being priced out of mobility,” Nyemah said.
Caught Between Price and Inconvenience
With limited private transport options now charging L$6,500 to L$7,000, many commuters say they’re stuck choosing between unreliable public service and prohibitively expensive alternatives.
“If nothing is done soon, the NTA risks becoming irrelevant,” Wollo warned. “It was created to serve the people, not to price them out.”
Residents in Maryland County are calling for swift government intervention to stabilize fares, improve bus availability, and protect vulnerable communities from further economic exclusion, especially during the rainy season when road conditions worsen and the price of basic goods like imported rice spikes dramatically.
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