By Staff Writer
Monrovia—Sources at the National Transit Authority (NTA) say one of the major challenges facing public transportation is the Authority’s decision to prioritize renting out buses instead of using them to transport ordinary passengers.
A staff member of the entity, who asked not to be named, told DN News that more than 75 percent of the buses are rented out while ordinary Liberians are left stranded and forced to depend on taxis and commercial buses.
“We see people celebrating the arrival of the new buses, but most of them are being rented out either to government institutions or private groups. That is why ordinary Liberians hardly see these buses on the roads,” the source said.
The concern comes at a time when the NTA has expanded its fleet with 60 new vehicles, including 35 mass-transit buses, 20 mini-buses, and five cargo trucks. The latest additions were intended to improve public transportation across the country.
However, the source claimed that the increase in the number of buses has not improved transportation for ordinary citizens because many of the buses are being used for rentals.
One example, according to the source, was the recent Strengthening Families Conference organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where more than 15 of the newly imported buses were reportedly rented out for the event.
Apart from that, DN News has observed the frequent use of NTA buses for funerals, conferences, workshops, and other events, while only a few buses remain available to transport commuters, especially in Monrovia.
The source said the main purpose of public transportation is to serve the people and not to focus on generating income through rentals.
“Public transportation is meant to serve the people. If citizens cannot use the buses to travel because they are being rented out for money, then what is the purpose of having a public transport system?” the source asked.
DN News contacted the National Transit Authority for comment, but no response had been received at the time of publication.
