Encourages Gov’t Institutions to Put Citizens First
Paynesville, Liberia – President Joseph N. Boakai has applauded the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) for dedicating a new public restroom facility in the LBS Community of Paynesville, describing the initiative as a practical investment in the health, dignity, and well-being of Liberians. Speaking Friday, August 14, 2026, at the dedication ceremony, Boakai commended NOCAL’s leadership for demonstrating what he described as farsightedness and a strong commitment to development initiatives that respond directly to the everyday needs of citizens.
The president at the same time urged NOCAL and other government institutions to pursue more practical, people-centered projects that provide tangible benefits to communities, stressing that Liberia’s development must translate into improved living conditions for ordinary citizens. President Boakai’s commendation comes as NOCAL moves to position the project as a pilot for a broader sanitation initiative targeting vulnerable communities and major transit corridors across Liberia.
For his part, NOCAL President and CEO Fabian M. Lai said the project goes beyond the construction of a physical structure, describing it as an investment in public health, dignity, and respect for citizens. Lai explained that the absence of adequate sanitation facilities has exposed residents and marketeers to health risks, open defecation, and conditions that undermine human dignity.
According to him, “When we speak of national development, we often speak in terms of megawatts, metric tons, and GDP growth. But today, we are speaking about dignity. We are speaking about health. And we are speaking about respect for the people who form the backbone of our daily economy.”
He said NOCAL intends to replicate the initiative in other vulnerable communities and major transit corridors, including Ganta, Buchanan, Bo Waterside, Gbarnga, and Zwedru. The head of NOCAL also called on other state-owned enterprises and government institutions to join efforts aimed at addressing basic social needs, emphasizing that national development should not be measured solely by major economic projects.
Meanwhile, NOCAL has urged residents of the LBS Community to take ownership of the new facility, maintain proper sanitation, discourage open defecation, and work collectively to protect the facility for sustained public use. The initiative underscores NOCAL’s growing focus on responsible corporate citizenship while reinforcing President Boakai’s call for development initiatives that deliver visible and meaningful improvements in the daily lives of Liberians.
The dedicated facility is part of NOCAL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program and is intended to address longstanding sanitation challenges confronting marketeers, residents, and other users of the busy LBS Community.
