By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The Government of Sierra Leone has intensified efforts to restore law and order, improve road safety and rejuvenate the capital city through coordinated interventions led by a newly formed Taskforce on Indiscipline and Lawlessness. These updates were unveiled during the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly Press Briefing held on July 22, 2025 in Freetown.

The multi-sectoral session featured detailed presentations from key Ministries and Government Agencies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sierra Leone Police (SLP), Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), Freetown City Council (FCC) and Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), among others.

Delivering a keynote update, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Retired AIG Morie Lengor, announced that the Taskforce on Indiscipline and Lawlessness was established following President Julius Maada Bio’s directive to restore order, particularly in the capital city. The Taskforce includes representatives from SLP, FCC, SLRSA and SLRA.

Retired AIG Morie Lengor disclosed that one of the Taskforce’s first major actions was the enforcement of a ban on commercial motorbikes within the Central Business District (CBD), citing repeated disruptions to public order. In partnership with the FCC, the Taskforce has identified and cleared 23 major streets of illegal street trading activities. Additionally, a new initiative targeting noise pollution in residential neighborhoods has commenced, with citizens now able to report violations using a toll-free number (900) available across all mobile networks.

Deputy Inspector General of Police and Taskforce Head, Sahr Y. Senesi, reaffirmed that the country remains peaceful and stable. He noted that a strategic meeting held on April 17, 2025, at the Freetown City Council brought together key transport and trade unions to facilitate the clearing of the identified 23 streets. Union leaders were charged with sensitizing their members on the rationale and objectives of the Taskforce.

DIG Sahr Y. Senesi further reported that key areas such as Model Junction, Jui Junction, Shell and Wilkinson Road have now been successfully cleared. He emphasized a marked improvement in national security, citing a significant reduction in crime; 8,567 cases were reported in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 3,785 in the second quarter, reflecting a drop of 4,782 cases.

In addressing road safety concerns, Augustine Kaitongi, Director of Road Safety and Enforcement at SLRSA, announced the launch of a Highway Management Unit (HMU), tasked with removing abandoned and broken-down vehicles from the nation's highways. He commended SLRA for allocating a holding site at Mile 91 for towed vehicles, improving highway safety and traffic flow.

The SLRSA has also rolled out a Mobile Licensing Vehicle initiative under the leadership of Executive Director, James Bio. That innovation allows citizens to obtain driver's licenses without additional costs and includes a 24-hour toll-free line (844) for requesting licenses, lodging complaints or reporting road traffic accidents. The initiative is expected to boost public access to licensing services and reduce the risk of corruption.

Augustine Kaitongi also revealed that the Ministry of Transport and Aviation will soon organize a national consultation on a proposed Vehicle Age Policy. The policy aims to regulate the importation of old vehicles and raise overall road safety standards.

From the Freetown City Council, Information, Education and Communication Officer, Koma Hassan-Kamara, highlighted the underlying causes of increasing disorder in the capital, attributing it to ongoing rural-to-urban migration. She lauded the Taskforce’s work as both timely and necessary, noting that FCC had faced challenges in enforcing order in the city for over two years.

Madam Koma Hassan-Kamara also announced the imminent launch of the FCC’s CBD Regeneration Project, a citywide beautification and renewal initiative. The project will focus on upgrading infrastructure, installing streetlights and introducing parking controls across central Freetown. It will be implemented in collaboration with SLRA and SLRSA, forming a central pillar of Freetown’s broader urban transformation strategy.

With the Government continuing its coordinated approach to restoring discipline and modernizing the capital, these multi-agency efforts signal a renewed focus on public order, safety and sustainable urban development. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/crackdown-begins-on-public-nuisance-and-urban-lawlessness/