In a landmark event at the Ministry of Lands Conference Room, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was formally signed today between the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning and the Ministry of Defence.
This strategic collaboration marks a significant step towards addressing Sierra Leone’s housing deficit and accelerating national development.
The signing ceremony, presided over by the Senior Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Mr. Abdul R.M. Fofanah, was described as a memorable day in achieving national development.
The Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie, hailed the event as “history making” and a “unique event.” He emphasized that the MOU is a deliberate and carefully planned initiative in the national interest, designed to promote housing development for all Sierra Leoneans, including those in the civil service, public service, and the general public.
“Our nation is suffering from a major housing deficit,” Dr. Senesie stated. “This collaboration is an eye-opener on the need to support national development. The military is not only limited to war but to development, as is evident across the sub-region.”
Key objectives outlined in the MOU include:
· Estate Development: The military will embark on the development of housing estates to increase the national housing stock.
· New City Creation: A long-term vision to involve the military in the creation of new cities to decongest Freetown and other primary cities, utilizing vast tracts of state land.
· Revenue Generation: The partnership is expected to increase revenue generation to support the military, both ministries, and the public good.
· Land Security: The collaboration will strongly support the Ministry of Lands in acquiring and securing state land against illegal activities.
In a firm message, Dr. Senesie issued a final warning to land grabbers: “This solid collaboration between the lands ministry and defence ministry will wipe out their era of fraud. Any institutions collaborating with land grabbers are doing a disservice to Sierra Leone, and this will not be tolerated under our watch.”
The Chief of Defence Staff affirmed the military’s commitment, noting that while their duty is to fight and bring peace during war, they are equally dedicated to contributing to development in peace. He saluted the ministers for the collaboration and confirmed that the military will now actively embark on estate development projects.
The Deputy Minister of Defence expressed gratitude for the long-standing partnership and the confidence reposed in the military, affirming their commitment to support the President’s agenda.
The Deputy Minister of Lands also expressed great happiness over the strengthened collaboration.
This MOU moves the longstanding partnership between the two ministries into a new phase of concrete action, underscoring a progressive change in focus for the security sector and a unified commitment to national progress.
