By: Melvin Flomo
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Capitol Hill - Monrovia – Lofa County Senator Momo Tarnue-Kollie Cyrus, Chair of the Senate Committee on Defense, Intelligence, Security, and Veteran Affairs, has called for the immediate cancellation of the Resident Permit Digitization Agreement between the Government of Liberia and Contec Global Liberia Limited, citing major revenue losses and national security concerns.
In a communication addressed to the Senate Plenary, Senator Cyrus described the contract as “grossly unfavorable to Liberia,” alleging that the company has consistently underperformed while exposing the country’s data to potential security breaches.
The Resident Permit Digitization Project was signed in October 2021 with the aim of modernizing immigration systems, improving transparency, and enhancing revenue collection through automated resident permit cards for non-citizens. However, the Lofa lawmaker said findings from his committee’s investigation revealed that Contec Global has failed to meet the core objectives of the agreement.
“From October 2021 to December 2023, no cards were printed by Contec Global as required under the agreement,” Senator Cyrus stated. “Between January 2024 and August 4, 2025, only 17,339 cards were produced, generating about US$7.8 million, out of which Contec Global appropriated nearly US$3.5 million, despite providing no visible nationwide infrastructure.”
The senator lamented that the company’s failure to decentralize enrollment centers across Liberia’s 15 counties has resulted in “thousands of undocumented aliens” residing in the country, leading to “hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost lawful revenue annually.”
Senator Cyrus also raised alarm over the handling of sensitive immigration data, noting that Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) officers have no access to the production room, system passwords, or equipment.
“Immigration data is being managed externally without adequate institutional oversight, exposing the Republic to serious sovereignty and national security risks,” he warned.
According to the senator, Contec Global has not established the required county centers, tracking systems, or data control facilities, while key functions such as application approval, card issuance, and database management remain under the contractor’s exclusive control.
He further accused the company of failing to disclose its investment portfolio or capital expenditure, despite reportedly earning over US$3 million from the project without procuring the listed assets or conducting agreed training programs.
“These lapses undermine government revenue mobilization, weaken the institutional capacity of the Liberia Immigration Service, and erode public trust in our digital governance system,” Senator Cyrus emphasized.
To address the issue, the lawmaker recommended that the Senate invite key officials including the Ministers of Finance and Justice, the Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority, the Commissioner General of the Liberia Immigration Service, and the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs for a public hearing on the matter.
He further urged the Senate to press the Executive for the contract’s immediate termination.
“If this agreement is not urgently reviewed and realigned to reflect Liberia’s best interest or responsibly terminated—the Senate should not continue to appropriate major budgetary allocations to the Liberia Immigration Service for operations that should already be revenue-generating,” he cautioned.
Following deliberations, the Senate referred the communication to its Committee on Judiciary for legal advice. The committee is expected to report to the full plenary in the coming weeks.
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