By Mahmud Tim Kargbo
Monday, 22 September 2025
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning has released Government Notice No. 371 in the Sierra Leone Gazette, Vol. CLXVI, No. 73, dated Thursday 28 August 2025. Through this formal notice, the Ministry has invoked the Unoccupied Lands Act, Cap 117 (1960) (http://sierralii.org/sl/legislation/act/1960/cap117) to repossess idle lands situated within the Newton and Songo corridor and neighbouring communities. The declaration requires any person or organisation laying claim to any section of the identified tracts to provide verified evidence to the Deputy Director of Surveys and Lands, Mr Abraham Cooper, between 1 September 2025 and 28 February 2026. Submissions must be duly receipted, and claimants are obliged to deal exclusively with Mr Cooper in order to ensure orderly processing and avoid unnecessary disputes.
The Gazette also publishes the Newton and Songo Colony and Environs Boundary Schedule (Plot 1), Schedule Block 1, setting out precise technical details including beacon bearings, distances, and GPS coordinates which define the area in question. Citizens and institutions are advised to consult the full Gazette notice, available at the Government Printing Press, 14 Howe Street, Freetown, to appreciate the full scope of the exercise.
Communities Concerned
The Gazette provides detailed schedules and coordinates covering extensive land within the Newton and Songo axis, taking in 47 communities, namely:
- Kallie Town
- Brama
- Newton
- Madonkeh
- Rogbom
- Mamango
- Maba
- Masoko
- Mayembana
- Robis
- Maseleh
- Makonkodeh
- Masella
- Konta
- Kwama
- Rogere
- Gbonkowaylay
- Mafullah
- Fabaina
- Mahena
- Ngarahun
- Malamana
- Masorie
- Robonga
- Rokundoh
- Maselor
- Magbagba
- Mapoponi
- Songo Loko
- Mabala
- Crossing
- Foya
- Masita
- Makrifoh
- Mabatama
- Makolbondo
- Magbaft
- 5-Mile
- 6-Mile
- Katu Town
- Kporbu
- Gbowela
- Maswaray
- Gbovenhum
- Makono
- Mapakira
- Magbanamaty
Note: Settlements with uninterrupted occupation for more than twelve years will remain unaffected, as expressly provided under Cap 117. This provision ensures fairness while upholding state authority.
Schedule Highlights
- Schedule One: 25,000 hectares within Newton and Songo, fully recorded with coordinates in the Gazette.
- Schedule Two: Additional adjoining plots, equally defined with precision.
President Julius Maada Bio has consistently affirmed his government’s determination to ensure repossession is implemented firmly and lawfully, balancing the rights of citizens with the wider public interest. His position underscores his broader commitment to good governance and institutional discipline under the SLPP “Big Five” priorities.
This firm stance is also consistent with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations, which identified neglect of land laws, unchecked impunity, and weak enforcement as factors that undermined public trust. By undertaking repossession transparently and in strict compliance with the law, the government seeks to resolve historic injustices, regularise tenure, and reinforce confidence in state institutions.
Legal Background
Under Cap 117, land is regarded as unoccupied if no person holds it lawfully. Proof of occupation requires uninterrupted use for at least twelve years through building, farming, water storage, or industrial activity. Where this cannot be demonstrated, repossession by the State is legally justified and unavoidable. Source: http://sierralii.org/sl/legislation/act/1960/cap117
Six-Month Window
As required by law, the Ministry has declared a six-month period, from 1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026, during which claimants must present valid evidence to Mr Abraham Cooper. Each application will be acknowledged with an official receipt bearing a unique code, ensuring transparent record-keeping.
For occupants with genuine long-term possession but lacking paperwork, the Ministry has pledged to regularise tenure through State Land Grants instead of Leases, thereby protecting rights while ensuring conformity with statutory provisions. Informal documents signed by local Headmen will not be accepted, in accordance with the 2019 Miatta Conference Agreement in Freetown, where Headmen themselves formally recognised that they lack legal authority to issue land documents.
Verification and Technology
To verify claims, the Ministry will utilise decades of satellite imagery. “We have multiple tools for verification. Satellite imagery provides year-on-year evidence. Claimants should expect thorough scrutiny,” explained Tamba Sahr Dauda, Acting Professional Head and Director of Surveys and Lands. He further clarified: “If you have built on the land and we can prove beyond all reasonable doubt that your presence extends over twelve years, your property will not be touched. The same applies if you are cultivating plantations or storing water. We are acting strictly within the law, with fairness and rigour.”
After February 2026
When the six-month period ends, all land not lawfully claimed will be surveyed and registered as State Land. Any person remaining on such land without authorisation will face arrest and prosecution. Trespass upon State Land is a serious offence that carries penalties including fines or imprisonment. Enforcement will be pursued jointly by the Sierra Leone Police and the Office of the Attorney General to guarantee compliance.
Historical Context
The Unoccupied Lands Act of 1960 originates from Sierra Leone’s colonial system of land tenure, which separated Crown Lands from Communal Lands. While debates have often arisen, the present enforcement is both lawful and necessary to safeguard public property.
Dr Mariama Conteh, a researcher on land tenure, observed:
“This Act has historic colonial roots, but its application today is vital. Enforcing it firmly allows the State to protect public land while granting citizens clarity and security. The real challenge is not the law itself, but ensuring that the repossession process continues in a transparent manner that strengthens both state authority and community stability.”
Wider Context
Land disputes have long been a destabilising factor in Sierra Leone, particularly in the rapidly expanding Western Area, where urbanisation and population growth have placed unprecedented pressure on land. By enforcing the Unoccupied Lands Act, the government aims to curb fraudulent practices, regularise ownership, and preserve land for national development.
Minister Turad Sanesie, Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, emphasised: “We are providing ample time and clear procedures. Those with legitimate claims will be protected, but land that is genuinely unoccupied must return to the people of Sierra Leone through the State.”
Key Points at a Glance
- The Unoccupied Lands Act was enacted in 1960 under colonial administration.
- It defines unoccupied land as land “not in lawful occupation.”
- Continuous occupation for twelve years through building, farming, water storage, or industrial use protects land from repossession.
- Notices must run for six months before repossession.
- Land left unclaimed after this period becomes State Land