The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning has announced the commencement of a major land regularisation exercise, invoking the Unoccupied Lands Act (Cap 117 of 1960) to repossess unoccupied lands stretching across the Newton to Songo axis and surrounding communities.

The directive was published in Government Notice No. 371 in the Sierra Leone Gazette, Vol. CLXVI, No. 73, dated 28 August 2025. It sets out precise schedules covering more than 25,000 hectares of land, supported by GPS coordinates and beacon bearings detailed in the Gazette.

According to the notice, all individuals or institutions claiming ownership of any part of the affected parcels must submit documentary evidence to the Deputy Director of Surveys and Lands, Mr.

Abraham Cooper, between 1 September 2025 and 28 February 2026. Claimants will be issued acknowledgement receipts and are advised to liaise directly with Mr. Cooper to ensure proper authentication of their documents.

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Settlements with evidence of at least twelve years of continuous occupation through housing, farming, water storage, or industrial activity will be exempt from repossession, in line with provisions of the Act.

For long-term occupants without formal documents, the Ministry has pledged to regularise tenure through State Land Grants rather than leases. However, documents signed by local Headmen will not be accepted, following the 2019 Miatta Conference Agreement.

Acting Professional Head and Director of Surveys and Lands, Tamba Sahr Dauda, explained that the verification process will incorporate modern technology, including satellite imagery. “We have multiple ways to validate claims. If you have occupied land continuously for more than twelve years, your possession will stand. But fraudulent or short-term claims will not be entertained,” he stated.

The Ministry emphasised that once the six-month deadline lapses in February 2026, all unclaimed lands will be registered as State Land.

Any unauthorised occupation thereafter will be considered trespass, subject to penalties under Sierra Leonean law. Enforcement will involve both the Sierra Leone Police and the Office of the Attorney General.

The repossession exercise affects 47 communities across the Newton–Songo corridor, including Kallie Town, Brama, Newton, Madonkeh, Rogbom, Mamango, Masoko, Mayembana, Robis, Songo Loko, Mabala, Crossing, Foya, Makrifoh, Five Mile, Six Mile, and others.

President Julius Maada Bio has underscored his government’s commitment to implementing the process strictly within the law while protecting the rights of genuine occupants. He described the move as part of his administration’s broader governance and institutional reforms under the SLPP’s “Big Five” agenda.

The decision also echoes recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which identified land mismanagement, impunity, and weak enforcement of property rights as drivers of past conflict in Sierra Leone.

By pursuing this transparent and rules-based approach, the government says it aims to curb fraudulent land sales, secure state property for national development, and restore public trust in institutions.

Citizens seeking further details are encouraged to consult the official Gazette available at the Government Printing Press, 14 Howe Street, Freetown.