Calls for drastic changes to Liberia’s oil industry
Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph N. Boakai has officially inaugurated the National Oil Company of Liberia’s (NOCAL) new headquarters in Monrovia. He warned that the era of poor governance and poor results must give way to transparency, accountability, and prompt action.
President Boakai declared that the new headquarters must serve as a command center for reform, efficiency, and credible administration of Liberia’s oil and gas resources on Friday, December 19, 2025, in Monrovia, describing the cutting-edge complex as more than just a building.
He emphasized that the petroleum industry is still essential to economic growth, energy security, and national development but only if it is run in the public interest. Boakai added, “The task before NOCAL is not ceremonial; it calls for strong regulatory oversight, robust intervention, and improved technical capacity to reposition the sector for results.”
The Liberian leader also asked the company’s management to show professionalism, efficiency, and responsibility while coordinating its activities with global best practices. President Boakai stressed that in order to draw in investment, update infrastructure, and stabilize the petroleum market, government organizations, private investors, and development partners must work together more closely.
He urged NOCAL to take a more active part in sector coordination, policy implementation, and guaranteeing a steady supply of fuel across the country. Senior government officials, legislators, stakeholders in the petroleum industry, development partners, and NOCAL employees attended the commissioning ceremony. As NOCAL works to restore trust and provide real benefits from Liberia’s petroleum resources, officials say the new headquarters will enhance coordination and operational efficacy.
At the dedication of NOCAL’s new headquarters, CEO Fabian Lai stated that it represents more than just the opening of a structure; it represents a long-standing vision for the country’s energy future and serves as a potent symbol of what the nation can achieve through tenacity, collaboration, and patriotism.
“Twenty-three years after NOCAL’s founding, we finally stand at our own permanent home(a, dream realized through resilience, teamwork, and steadfast dedication to national service.”
He noted that the construction of the headquarters serves as evidence that patience, collaboration, and unwavering determination are the keys to true transformation and that continuity is the cornerstone of national advancement. What was originally a blueprint has become a lighthouse fifteen years later.
The CEO of NOCAL stated, “What was once a promise is now proof of what Liberia can accomplish when we refuse to let vision fade and when leadership, both past and present, unite in the service of something greater than ourselves.”
According to him, the new headquarters serves as a concrete assurance to the Liberian people that their national oil firm is built on stability, transparency, and ambition. It also inspires pride within their team and confidence among our partners. “We are beginning a new chapter rather than merely inaugurating a structure when we cut this ribbon and open these doors today. Our mission control is located in this headquarters.”
He said, “From here, our work accelerates with purpose: to modernize NOCAL with state-of-the-art systems, to build local capacity that empowers Liberian talent, to foster transparency that earns public trust, and to deepen partnerships that drive shared prosperity.”
To be clear, we are still committed to maintaining the greatest safety standards, encouraging careful environmental stewardship, and ensuring the responsible, transformative development of Liberia’s hydrocarbon resources. The head of NOCAL emphasizes, “We are here to make sure that every barrel, every contract, and every opportunity benefits all Liberians.”
Photo credit: Executive Mansion
