AYV News, July 24, 2025
Minister of Internal Affairs, Retired AIG Morie Lengor, has said the newly established Taskforce on Indiscipline and Lawlessness, formed in response to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s directive to restore order in the capital.
He said the Taskforce comprises representatives from the Sierra Leone Police, Freetown City Council, Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, and the Sierra Leone Roads Authority.
Minister Lengor reported that the Taskforce has successfully banned commercial motorbikes from the Central Business District (CBD) due to repeated public disturbances, adding that in collaboration with the FCC, 23 key streets have been identified and cleared of unlawful street trading.
The Taskforce, he went on, is also addressing noise pollution in residential areas and has set up a 900 toll-free number on all mobile networks for citizens to report violations.
Deputy Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police and Head of the Taskforce, Sahr Y. Senesi, affirmed that the nation remains peaceful and stable. He recounted a strategic meeting held on April 17, 2025, at the Freetown City Council, where all key transport and trade unions were engaged about clearing the identified 23 streets. Union representatives were tasked with sensitising their members to the goals of the Taskforce.
DIG Senesi confirmed that the clearing of key locations—including Model Junction, Jui Junction, Shell, and Wilkinson Road—has been completed. He also reported a significant drop in crime, with 8,567 crimes reported in Q1 and 3,785 in Q2, indicating a reduction of 4,782 cases between the two quarters.
Augustine Kaitongi, Director of Road Safety and Enforcement at SLRSA, stated that the agency has introduced a Highway Management Unit (HMU) to remove faulty vehicles abandoned on highways, which pose risks to public safety. He commended SLRA for providing a holding area at Mile 91 to accommodate the towed vehicles.
Under the leadership of Executive Director James Bio, the SLRSA also rolled out a Mobile Licensing Vehicle initiative, which allows citizens to obtain licenses at no additional cost, improving access while reducing opportunities for financial exploitation. The service is accessible via a 24-hour toll-free line (844) for license requests, complaints, and accident reporting.
Director Kaitongi also announced that the Ministry of Transport and Aviation will soon host a national consultation on the proposed Vehicle Age Policy, which seeks to regulate the importation of old vehicles and enhance road safety standards across the country.
