Urged Both County And National Authorities To Put Liberian Citizens’ Interest Above Foreign Companies

PHOTO: Wilmot Paye, former Mines and Energy Minister

By Aruna A. Goepogui

‎‎MONROVIA, Liberia–Former Mines and Energy Ministerm Wilmot Paye has warned that Liberia risks exhausting some of its most valuable non-renewable resources if urgent steps are not taken to protect and properly manage the country’s mineral wealth.

‎Speaking during the official induction ceremony of newly elected officials of Nimba Kwado, Paye cautioned leaders, lawmakers, and residents of Nimba County that the county’s high-grade iron ore deposits could be depleted within the next 15 years if current extraction trends continue unchecked.‎

‎Paye, a former National Chairman of the ruling Unity Party (UP), urged both county and national authorities to place the interests of Liberian citizens above those of foreign companies, stressing that Liberia must regain control of its natural resources.

This, he said, will address widespread poverty and stimulate economic growth, nothing that although Liberia is richly endowed with natural resources, those assets are finite and cannot be replaced once they are exhausted.‎

‎The former Mines and Energy Minister further emphasized that Nimba County possesses a significant share of the country’s iron ore reserves, but lamented that the continued exploitation of these resources has not translated into substantial benefits for local communities.‎

‎Paye also rejected claims that Liberia lacks the ability to independently verify the volume of iron ore being exported, arguing that the challenge stems from corruption rather than technical limitations.‎

‎Meanwhile, Senator Samuel Kogar, who also spoke at the ceremony, urged the newly inducted leaders of Nimba Kwado to avoid political affiliations in carrying out their responsibilities.

‎He emphasized the importance of maintaining unity and ensuring that recognition and respect are given to deserving individuals.