In response to growing public concerns over lawlessness, poor sanitation, and increasing safety risks in Freetown and other urban centers, the Government of Sierra Leone has formed a multi-agency task force to restore order and improve city living conditions.

The task force, officially launched under the direction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is part of a wider government-backed campaign to reclaim public spaces and address the mounting challenges affecting urban environments. Led by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sahr Y. Senesi, the newly established unit brings together officers and experts from the Sierra Leone Police, Freetown City Council, Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), and other key institutions.

Minister of Internal Affairs, Rtd AIG Morie Lengor Esq, who spearheads the initiative, said the formation of the task force marks a strategic turning point in how the government addresses urban disorder.

“We’ve heard the public’s outcry over deteriorating conditions in our cities, especially Freetown. This task force is a coordinated response, designed to enforce existing regulations and promote a cleaner, safer, and more disciplined urban environment,” Minister Lengor stated at the campaign’s launch in the Central Business District (CBD) of Freetown.

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The task force has already begun operations in the CBD, targeting high-risk areas where street crime, sidewalk encroachment, commercial motorbike (okada) hazards, and illegal vending have disrupted daily life. The plan includes expansion to 23 additional streets, identified by the City Council as priority zones for intervention.

Minister Lengor made it clear that while business licensing is essential, it should not be used as a cover for obstructing public spaces or encroaching on roadways. He also highlighted broader concerns such as reckless driving, unregulated construction, illegal waste dumping, and noise pollution from nightclubs in residential zones—issues that collectively endanger public safety and contribute to urban flooding and traffic congestion.

The initiative includes reactivating the police emergency hotline 900, now fully operational across all mobile networks. Citizens can use the toll-free number to report disturbances, unsafe activities, and other issues requiring swift intervention.

Calling for collective responsibility, the Minister urged Sierra Leoneans to uphold the same standards of order and sanitation practiced in foreign countries. “National transformation begins with civic discipline. The government can only do so much without the full cooperation of the people,” he emphasized.