A commercial law firm, EandC Legal, has advised Nigeria’s JR Farms Group on a $60m public-private partnership concession agreement with the Government of Liberia, a transaction expected to support the company’s expansion in West Africa’s agribusiness sector.

The 20-year coffee sector agreement, signed on Monday in Monrovia, is aimed at revitalising Liberia’s coffee industry while creating opportunities for agricultural investment and value chain development.

According to a statement by EandC Legal, the deal was executed through Liberia’s Ministry of Agriculture and formally signed by the country’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr J. Alexander Nuetah, alongside the Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of JR Farms Group, Mr Olawale Oyeyemi.

The firm said it acted as lead transaction counsel, providing advisory support on the legal, regulatory and commercial frameworks underpinning the partnership, as well as negotiations on investment protection, compliance structures, risk allocation and long-term operational design.

Speaking on the transaction, Founder and Lead Partner of EandC Legal, Omoruyi “Uyilaw” Edoigiawerie, said the agreement reflected the increasing role of Nigerian advisory firms in cross-border investment transactions.

“This transaction exemplifies the transformative power of strategic public-private collaboration in unlocking Africa’s economic potential,” Edoigiawerie said.

He added, “We are proud to have advised JR Farms Group on a landmark investment expected to strengthen agricultural productivity, create significant employment opportunities and drive sustainable economic growth across Liberia.”

According to him, the development highlights the growing role of Nigerian firms in shaping large-scale agricultural investments beyond the country’s borders.

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Liberia’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr Nuetah, described the partnership as a major milestone in efforts to revive the country’s coffee sector and deepen regional agricultural cooperation.

“This partnership represents a major opportunity to revive Liberia’s coffee sector, empower farmers, create jobs and unlock new economic opportunities for rural communities across the country,” he said.

Oyeyemi said the project aligned with the company’s vision of expanding African agricultural value chains, with Nigerian agribusiness players increasingly participating in cross-border investments.

According to him, Liberia’s coffee heritage and its recognition as the origin of the Liberica coffee variety position the country for long-term growth in production and exports.

“The potential here goes beyond Liberia alone. It creates a platform for African agribusiness to scale, integrate and compete globally,” he said.

The initiative is expected to support the development of more than 250,000 hectares of coffee plantations and the planting of approximately 200 million coffee trees over the next 20 years.

It is also projected to benefit more than 200,000 farmers and generate about 300,000 direct and indirect jobs across Liberia’s coffee value chain.

Under the concession arrangement, JR Farms Group will oversee operations in key coffee-producing regions, including Nimba, Lofa and Bong counties, expanding its footprint in West African agribusiness.