News & Announcements

The National Land Commission has initiated the pilot phase of its digital Land Management Information System (LMIS) in three districts: Western Area Urban, Bo, and Kenema. This marks a significant milestone in the Commission's digital transformation agenda under Pillar 2 of its Corporate Strategy.

Commissioner-General Abu Bakarr Sappay Foray-Musa announced the pilot launch during a ceremony at the NLC headquarters, stating: "This pilot represents our commitment to modernizing land administration through technology. We are starting with three districts to test the system, gather user feedback, and refine our processes before nationwide rollout."

The pilot phase will focus on digitizing land records, testing online service applications, and training District Land Commission staff on the new system. Key features being tested include:

• Online land title application and tracking
• Digital cadastral mapping interface
• Integration with existing land records
• User authentication and security protocols

The pilot is expected to run for six months, with full evaluation scheduled for October 2024. Based on the pilot results, the Commission plans to expand the system to additional districts in 2025.

The National Land Commission, in partnership with the National Council of Paramount Chiefs and civil society organizations, has launched a nationwide awareness campaign on the provisions of the Customary Land Rights Act, 2022 (CLRA).

The campaign aims to educate communities, traditional authorities, and landholders about their rights and responsibilities under the new legislation. Focus areas include:

• Understanding customary land rights recognition and protection
• Procedures for recording family and community land rights
• Gender equity provisions and women's land rights
• Prevention of illegal land sales and land grabbing
• Role of Chiefdom Land Committees (CLCs)

The awareness campaign will utilize multiple channels including community radio programs, town hall meetings, printed materials in local languages, and engagement with religious and community leaders. District-level sensitization workshops are scheduled throughout April and May 2024.

"Many Sierra Leoneans, especially in rural areas, are unaware of their rights under the new law," said Deputy Commissioner-General Isata Mahoi. "This campaign is crucial for ensuring that the benefits of land reform reach all citizens, particularly women and vulnerable groups."

The Commissioner-General has announced the successful establishment and operationalization of District Land Commissions (DLCs) in all 16 districts of Sierra Leone. This achievement fulfills the requirement under Section 32 of the National Land Commission Act, 2022, and represents a major step in decentralizing land governance.

Each DLC is composed of representatives from local government, traditional authorities, civil society, and professional bodies. The commissions have been equipped with initial operational resources and staff training to begin delivering land services at the district level.

Key functions now available through DLCs include:

• Receiving and processing land registration applications
• Facilitating Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for land conflicts
• Coordinating with Chiefdom Land Committees on customary land matters
• Providing public information and awareness on land laws
• Collecting land service fees and revenues

To mark this milestone, the NLC will host a series of district-level inauguration ceremonies throughout April 2024. The events will bring together local stakeholders to officially launch DLC operations and strengthen collaborative relationships.

"Bringing land services closer to communities is at the heart of our reform agenda," stated Commissioner-General Foray-Musa. "The operationalization of DLCs means citizens no longer need to travel to Freetown for basic land services."