SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba – Nimba’s County Superintendent Fong G. Zuagele has confirmed that his administration has leased out a portion of the superintendent’s compound to a local businessman to operate as an entertainment center.

Speaking to reporters in the county’s capital recently, Zuagele said the current use of the compound is no different than when the facility was under the care of UNMIL personnel.

“When UNMIL was using this place, that was the same thing they were doing there, selling alcoholic drinks,” he said. “So, because we gave it to our own Liberian person to take over is what you have problem with?”

Zuagele said he unilaterally made the decision to lease the facility and said he was well within his rights to do so as head of the Nimba County Administration: “This is something I decided to do and I don’t think I need to have consultations about it.”

However, his decision prompted concerns from citizens and some county officials about the facility being potentially misused. In fact, Sen. Prince Johnson, who has clashed with the superintendent on several issues, and also head of the Nimba Legislative Caucus, said the caucus had formally written Zuagele about the matter.

“He has turned the superintendent compound… into a hotel and disco center,” Johnson said. “This is bad; this is degrading. This is the first time the superintendent of a county ever messed up so badly.”

Meanwhile, Zuagele did not state the value of the lease agreement.

Featured photo by Arrington Ballah