CEOAFRICA News desk gathered that  Liberia and Japanese governments have signed an agreement valued at US$50 million for the construction and expansion of the Somalia Drive.

The agreement was signed by the Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and Ambassador of Japan accredited to Liberia, Mr. Naoto Nikai on behalf of both countries respectively..

After the signing ceremony, Foreign Minister Ngafuan said,”We consider the Somalia Drive project a landmark because it is a major artery of Liberia’s trade corridor; that is, from the Freeport of Monrovia to the ever busy Red Light Market.”

The minister further expressed his optimism that the completion of this project will not only reduce drastically, series of traffic congestions being experienced at present, but also, will improve road worthiness in Monrovia and its environs, which would translate to the reduction of transaction cost for the production and movement of goods and services, and ultimately contribute to the overall economic development in Liberia.

In his assurance words, Ngafuan said,” Upon completion,it is estimated that the traffic time at peak hour between Freeport and Red Light will be reduced from almost one hour as of now to about 20 minutes while direct beneficiaries of the project would be the the road users and residents whose population is about 300,000 while indirectly benefitting Monrovia’s 1.2 million inhabitants.”

The construction of the road is expected to begin this dry season and hopefully, it would be fully completed.

The Minister also spoke about the long standing bilateral relationship existing between Liberia and Japan for the past 61 years; a feat which has led to the completion of several projects through the Japanese aids. Notable amongst these projects include; the inception of Japanese Food and Petroleum Aid to Liberia, provision of US$9 million education grants, the rehabilitation of the Liberia-Japanese Friendship Maternity Centre, the provision of medical equipment, dispatch of Japanese Health experts to Liberia, and the human capacity training for more than 100 Liberian government officials in Japan.

In his address, the Japanese Envoy said also said,”The project requires some levels of cooperation from the nearby residents. While entreating the local residents to bear with any inevitable inconveniences, I would also appeal to the stakeholders to try and reduce the inconveniences to the best minimum level”.

Also, JICA Representative, Iamura, said it was the agency’s pleasure to be able to respond to the urgent need of the expansion of Somalia Drive as the Project is indeed very meaningful to JICA.