-In Johnsonville and other areas
By Vaye Abel Lepolu
vayelepolu446@gmail.com
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has resumed demolition operations in Johnsonville and Jacob Town as part of ongoing enforcement under Executive Order 143, aimed at curbing illegal encroachment on wetlands, waterways, and other protected areas.
Key Points:
Background: This follows a coordinated April 16 operation involving multiple government agencies targeting illegal structures near SKD Boulevard and Police Academy Road.
Current Action: EPA officials are actively demolishing structures built illegally in wetlands in Johnsonville, an area that has suffered increased flooding due to unauthorized backfilling by Ruixu Commercial Concrete, a Chinese firm. The company continued night-time backfilling even after being ordered to stop.
Legal Violations:
Ruixu did not obtain environmental permits as required under Section 75 of the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia.
All developments—including land excavation or dumping—require EPA-issued permits.
Truck Drivers & Dirt Transport: Truckers moving soil must secure two EPA permits:
For the source (excavation site),
For the destination (dumping site).
The EPA urges the Truck Drivers Union and Ministry of Transport to ensure compliance.
Call to Action:
Cease all construction and backfilling in wetlands without EPA approval.
Consult EPA before disturbing any natural water bodies.
Collaborate with EPA to preserve Liberia’s ecosystems.
Conclusion: The EPA reaffirms its commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and protecting Liberia’s natural habitats. Offenders—individuals or institutions—will face full legal penalties.
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Headline: EPA Demolishes Illegal Structures in Johnsonville and Jacob Town, Warns Against Wetland Encroachment
Johnsonville, Liberia – May 20, 2025:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, in collaboration with key government agencies, resumed its demolition operations today in Johnsonville and Jacob Town, targeting structures illegally built in protected wetlands.
This action follows a broader initiative under Executive Order 143, which established a task force to combat the widespread encroachment on Liberia’s beachfronts and waterways. The EPA, along with the Ministry of Public Works, Liberia Land Authority, Ministry of Mines and Energy, and local city corporations, began a coordinated crackdown on April 16 in the SKD Boulevard and Police Academy Road corridors.
At the center of the latest operation is the unauthorized development by Ruixu Commercial Concrete, a Chinese company accused of illegally backfilling swampland in Johnsonville. EPA officials say the activity has significantly degraded the landscape and contributed to increased flooding in nearby communities, including areas surrounding the Multee International School System.
“Despite a halt order I personally issued, the developers continued backfilling at night,” said an EPA spokesperson on the scene. “This is a blatant disregard for the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia.”
Environmental Violations and Permit Enforcement
The EPA emphasized that any form of construction, drainage, or backfilling in wetlands without an Environmental Permit is strictly prohibited. Section 75 of Liberia’s Environmental Law specifically bans these activities.
In addition, the EPA addressed a growing trend where truck drivers are being used to transport red dirt for illegal land development. It stressed that truck operators must obtain two permits: one for the excavation site and another for the dumping location.
“No truck driver should move soil anywhere in this country without proper EPA authorization,” the agency warned. It also called on the Truck Drivers Union and the Ministry of Transport to help enforce these regulations.
Public Notice and Call to Action
The EPA issued a strong message to all citizens and foreign nationals:
Do not backfill or build in wetlands without permits.
Consult the EPA before altering any natural water body.
Support efforts to protect Liberia’s ecosystems.
“The EPA remains firm in its commitment to uphold environmental laws and safeguard the nation’s natural resources for present and future generations,” the statement concluded.
As enforcement intensifies, the EPA warns that violators—whether individuals or corporations—will face the full weight of the law.
