The Ministry of Transport and Aviation has outlined priorities for road, railway, aviation, and maritime transportation as the Government works to improve service delivery and strengthen coordination across the sector.

The priorities were presented on Monday, September 7, 2026, at State Avenue, State House in Freetown, during a Strategic Delivery Clinic convened by Chief Minister Dr David Moinina Sengeh.

The engagement brought together the Ministry’s leadership, heads of agencies and technical officials to review ongoing programmes, strengthen implementation coordination and ensure that planned interventions remain aligned with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan.

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Opening the clinic, Chief Minister Sengeh said the engagement provided an opportunity for government and sector stakeholders to examine ongoing programmes, brainstorm on priorities and develop a shared understanding of what is being implemented across the transport sector.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that programmes and interventions are directly aligned with the commitments contained in the Medium-Term National Development Plan.

According to Sengeh, the exercise is intended to strengthen delivery and ensure that government plans translate into measurable results for citizens.

Presenting the Ministry’s priorities, Minister of Transport and Aviation Amb. Rtd. Col. Alhaji Fanday Turay outlined the Ministry’s mandate, vision and mission, alongside a wide range of proposed interventions covering the country’s major transport subsectors.

The priorities include restructuring and strengthening the Ministry, reviewing transport policies, laws and regulations, developing a National Transport Policy, introducing an E-Mobility Policy and establishing regulatory frameworks for commercial motorbikes and tricycles.

The Ministry also plans to develop a National Transport Master Plan, provide additional urban and intercity buses, improve Freetown–Lungi water connectivity and mobilise resources for critical bridge infrastructure.

For road transportation, the Ministry plans to formalise and regulate public transport operations through stronger licensing and compliance systems, clearly defined routes and operational corridors and increased private-sector participation.

The plans also include electronic ticketing, cashless payment systems and ICT-enabled transport management.

The Ministry intends to improve public transport infrastructure through the tendering of terminals and parks in major cities.

Road safety is another major component of the agenda. Proposed measures include stronger road safety campaigns, revised safety regulations, vehicle safety policies and age limits for imported vehicles.

The Ministry also plans to introduce pre-shipment inspections for used vehicles, improve standards for vehicle parts, strengthen driver knowledge testing, introduce mandatory eye tests and expand roadworthiness testing facilities.

Public-Private Partnerships are also being considered for tow-truck and vehicle-clamping services, alongside increased public awareness campaigns on safe road use.

The railway component focuses on laying the foundation for a sustainable national rail system.

The Ministry plans to undertake pre-feasibility studies, develop a regulatory framework and National Rail Master Plan, strengthen institutional capacity and conduct training needs assessments.

Other proposed measures include overseas technical training, the development of operational manuals and preparation of an investment plan for the sector.

The aviation sector also featured prominently in the Ministry’s presentation, with plans to improve airport infrastructure as well as navigation and communication systems.

Key interventions include completing the Performance-Based Navigation Project, procuring an Instrument Landing System, refurbishing key aviation equipment and purchasing transmitters.

The Ministry also plans legislative reforms, stronger financial management systems and targeted capacity building for air traffic controllers and other aviation personnel.

A major focus is preparations for the 2027 International Civil Aviation Organization security audit.

The Aviation Regulatory Agenda includes a sector-wide gap analysis, inspector engagement, staff competency assessments and aerodrome safety training.

The Ministry also intends to strengthen regulatory capacity for drone operations, improve the Air Operator Certificate process and engage international aviation authorities to improve Sierra Leone’s standing on international safety lists.

Other priorities include developing surveillance plans for national and foreign operators, establishing competency-based examinations for air traffic controllers, advancing Bilateral Air Service Agreements and developing a National Aviation Safety Plan.

The Ministry has also outlined plans to modernise port operations, improve efficiency and strengthen maritime governance.

The proposed interventions include introducing a single-window system, expanding port CCTV coverage, installing modern port access-control systems and developing a comprehensive Port Master Plan.

Measures are also planned to decongest the port, establish inland container depots, expand haulage through public-private partnerships and support port expansion.

The Ministry further intends to strengthen shipping activities, operationalise relevant joint venture arrangements and advance the Sierra Leone National Shipping Agency framework.

Other priorities include expanding the sector’s client base, strengthening partnerships with mining and shipping companies and improving public awareness and collaboration across the maritime sector.

Maritime safety and security measures include procuring a nationwide marine radio communication system, conducting port facility security assessments and undertaking a national risk assessment for aids to navigation.

The Ministry also plans to rehabilitate regional facilities, construct outstation kiosks for maritime traffic regulators and provide life jackets.

Additional priorities include developing maritime regulatory instruments, training seafarers to international standards, domesticating the Maritime Labour Convention and introducing a digital system for managing passenger and cargo manifests.

Following the presentation, the Chief Minister, Minister, heads of agencies and technical officials held a detailed question-and-answer session focusing on implementation timelines, institutional responsibilities and potential delivery bottlenecks.

The discussions were aimed at moving beyond policy formulation towards clear implementation plans, coordination and measurable outcomes.

The session was also intended to ensure that the Ministry and its agencies have a shared understanding of what must be delivered, when it should be delivered and how the interventions align with national development priorities.

In his closing remarks, Minister Turay thanked his team and the agencies under the Ministry for their cooperation and commitment to advancing the sector’s priorities.

Chief Minister Sengeh also thanked the Minister, his team and participating institutions, expressing confidence in their ability to deliver the commitments presented at the clinic.

He noted that the priorities are consistent with the Medium-Term National Development Plan.

The Strategic Delivery Clinic forms part of the Government’s broader effort to strengthen performance management, improve inter-agency coordination and ensure that national development priorities are translated into concrete, trackable and timely results for the people of Sierra Leone.