Local Authorities Describe The Move As Timely And Necessary
PHOTO: (L-R) Grand Kru County Sup. Antoinette Nimley and LIS deputy Commission General, Atty. N. Dickson R. Tamba Sr.
By Emmanuel Koffa
BARCLAYVILLE, Liberia — In a move aimed at bringing immigration services closer to local communities, the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) has begun a nationwide inspection of its county offices to decentralize the processing of Digital Resident Permits for foreign nationals living in Liberia.
The initiative was disclosed by the Deputy Commissioner General for Naturalization, Atty. N. Dickson R. Tamba Sr., during a media briefing here in the southeastern Grand Kru County.
He explained that the exercise is intended to strengthen county-level capacity and address the rising presence of undocumented aliens across the country.
According to Atty. Tamba, the inspection tour follows up on a contract signed nearly four years ago between the Government of Liberia and a service provider for the production of Digital Resident Permits. While the project initially operated at the national level, LIS has now resolved to extend the process to counties to improve access, monitoring, and enforcement.
“This inspection marks a shift toward decentralization. By empowering county offices, we are ensuring that resident permit processing becomes more efficient and accessible, while also enhancing oversight,” the Deputy LIS Commissioner General explained.
He stated that the exercise is being implemented through a coordinated, multi-agency approach involving the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia Immigration Service, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and Content Global, the contractor responsible for producing the digital permits.
Selected LIS officers to get specialized training
As part of the process, selected LIS officers in Grand Kru County will receive specialized training to handle resident permit processing locally.
These officers will be tasked with capturing biometric and personal data of foreign nationals, a move expected to strengthen immigration records and support national security efforts.
Atty. Tamba emphasized that beyond immigration control, the initiative has strong revenue implications, as improved and transparent processing will help curb leakages and boost government income.
“The goal is to ensure transparency, accountability, and integrity in resident permit processing,” he said, adding that the inspection will also help identify operational gaps within county offices.
However, the deputy LIS boss acknowledged that LIS officers in Grand Kru County face serious logistical challenges, particularly in transportation and mobility, which limit their effectiveness. He assured that the government is committed to addressing these long-standing constraints.
Atty. Tamba also cautioned immigration officers to strictly adhere to the law in the execution of their duties and urged local residents to cooperate with LIS personnel, noting that manpower remains limited in the county.
Grand Kru Supt. says the move is timely & necessary
For her part, Grand Kru County Superintendent Antoinette Wowlee Nimely welcomed the inspection exercise, describing it as timely and necessary.
She highlighted the difficult working conditions faced by immigration officers in the county, especially the lack of mobility and operational support, but commended them for what she termed “exceptional performance under challenging circumstances.”
Superintendent Nimely called on the national government to urgently provide logistical support to county immigration offices to sustain the gains expected from the decentralization process.