Senate Chair On Defense, Intelligence, Security Wants Contec Global Contract Rejected Over Revenue and Security Risk
October 28, 2025
Monrovia: Lofa County Senator Momo Tarnue=kollie Cyrus has craved the indulgence of his colleagues to canceled with immediate effect the Resident Permit for Digitization Agreement between the Government of Liberia and Contec Global Liberia Limited over what he termed as revenue and security concerns.
In a communication to the senate, the Committee chair on Defense, Intelligence, Security and Veteran Affairs described the agreement as “grossly unfavorable to the Liberia,” citing massive revenue losses, data security risks, and persistent non=performance by the contractor.
The Resident Permit Digitization project was signed in October 2021 to modernize immigration systems, enhance transparency, and improve revenue collection through automated resident permit cards for non-citizens. However, Lofa County senator revealed that investigations done by the committee shows that Contec Global has “failed to meet fundamental objectives of the contract.”
“From October 2021 to December 2023, no cards were printed by Contec Global as required under the agreement,” the letter stated. “Between January 2024 and August 4, 2025, only 17,339 cards were printed, generating approximately US$7.8 million, of which Contec Global appropriated nearly US$3.5 million despite providing no visible nationwide infrastructure.”
Senator Cyrus noted that the failure to decentralize enrollment centers across Liberia’s fifteen counties has led to “thousands of undocumented aliens” residing in the country, causing “hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost lawful revenue annually.”
The senator also expressed grave concerns over data sovereignty, revealing that Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) officers have no access to the production room, equipment, or system passwords. “Immigration data is managed externally without adequate institutional oversight, exposing the Republic to serious sovereignty and national security risks,” he warned.
Cyrus further accused Contec Global of failing to establish county centers, tracking systems, or a data control center as required, adding that “critical functions such as approval of applications, card issuance, and database management are being executed solely by the contractor.”
He lamented that the contractor has not disclosed any investment portfolio or capital outlay despite generating over US$3 million in revenue and failing to procure listed assets or conduct training sessions as agreed.
“These lapses undermine government revenue mobilization, weaken LIS’s institutional capacity, and erode public trust in our digital governance architecture,” the senator wrote. “It sets a dangerous precedent where foreign entities exercise de facto control over sovereign data systems.”
Senator Cyrus recommended that the Senate invite key government officials including the Ministers of Finance and Justice, the Commissioners General of the Liberia Revenue Authority and the Liberia Immigration Service, and the Minister of State for Presidential Affair for a public hearing on the matter.
He also urged his colleagues to support a Senate communication to the Executive, pressing 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.
The Senate made a decision to refer the communication to the Committee on Judiciary for legal advice. The committee is expected to report to the August body in the coming weeks.
