By Foday Moriba Conteh
Rex Bhonapha, Deputy Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, has completed the payment of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones to land owning families in Bombali and Tonkolili Districts, North of Sierra Leone.
The delegation to the North was led by the Minister, Permanent Secretary Mr. Israel Jigba and other top Ministry officials.
The Mayagba Bombali Airfield payment was done at the Bombali Council Hall where the Deputy Minister of Lands, Rex Bhonapha on behalf of President Bio’s Government, presented a cheque of One Hundred Million Leones (Le 100,000,000) to PC Kasanga. The said money, according to the Deputy Minister, is for the affected Land owning families in the Chiefdom.
Speaking on behalf of the people of Pakimassbong Chiefdom, PC Mosasa Paki Kabonbor 11 thanked the Government of President Bio through the Ministry of Lands for the payment, describing it as very timely and that they as community people will continue to protect the said Lands and pray that President Bio and his Government succeed in rebranding the country by providing an Internal Air Transportation system across the country.
The program was chaired by the Regional Lands Surveyor, Karim Kargbo and the introduction of Ministry of Lands’ officials was done by the Permanent Secretary Israel Jigba.
The Team from Lands Ministry were also welcomed in the Magburaka District Council Hall by the District Officer, Augustine Fartoma.
Permanent Secretary, Israel Jigba, explained the purpose of their visit to the gathering, noting that they were sent by the Hon. Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Denis Sandy, to pay for the reservation quarters and for Government to then take full control of the said quaters.
Receiving the one hundred and fifty Million Leones (Le 150,000,000) cheque from the Deputy Minister of Lands, Rex Bhonapha, Paramount Chief of Magburaka, PC Masskawa 111 commended the New Direction Government of President Bio and his early effort to keeping those Airfields and Reservation quarters for future development programs for MDAs.
Similar payments have been done for the Airfield and Reservation Quarters in both Bo and Kenema Districts by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Denis Sandy.
During those meetings Dr. Sandy emphasised the commitment of President Bio to normalize every land situation across the country and encouraged members of the public to come to his office for proper documentation of State Lands which they had acquired over the years without proper papers.
He further explained to the Land Owning families that Government, upon paying a huge sum of money to these affected families in both Reservations and for the Airfields in Bo and Kenema, the land reverts to Government ownership forever.
