AYV News
February 1, 2023
Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, yesterday 31st January, 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TAF Global Limited to build five thousand affordable homes in Sierra Leone.
Mustapha Njie, the CEO of TAF Global said: TAF Africa Global plans to turn Sierra Leone into Dubai by building ultramodern affordable homes at John Obey in the Western Peninsular of the country.
He appreciated those whom he said are pioneers of the project reaching Sierra Leone, figuring out His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and the First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio as key movers of the project from the start.
He explained that in 2011, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio told him President Bio wants to meet with him – a meeting Mr. Njie said has now yielded good fruits with the signing of the MoU to kick-start.
He said upon visiting Sierra Leone on assessment tour years back, he was very much impressed by what he saw, especially from his meetings with the Ministry of Land and relevant stakeholders.
“While investing in Sierra Leone, we will be looking for competent and qualified Sierra Leoneans to take leadership of the Project.” CEO Njie said.
TAF Africa Global, the CEO said, has already developed numerous properties in his home country, The Gambia, adding that his first project outside Gambia is an Estate located in Port Harcourt, the capital and largest city of River State in Nigeria.
The property has over one thousand houses including about 600 units of apartments, villas and so on constructed on 40 hectares of land.
He said currently, TAF Africa Global which is the first private estate developer in The Gambia has branches in seven (7) other African countries.
Hon. Quintin Salia is Chairman Lands and Housing Committee, House of Parliament. He said housing is a very big problem in Sierra Leone. “I believe the completion of the project will go a long way in addressing housing problems in Sierra Leone, specifically in Freetown.” Hon. Salia stated.
He went on that the housing deficit in Sierra Leone has been a serious challenge, adding that the concept around the TAF Project targets low income earners who never dream of owning a house for themselves in Sierra Leone.
He said TAF’s investment in Sierra Leone is the right move, while encouraging all and sundry to support the success of the Project.
Speaking earlier, Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie said to translate manifesto promises into a tangible reality on the ground, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning is collaborating with Africa’s leading Real Estate Investor, Mustapha Njie actualises His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s micro-cities and housing vision.
He said after various meetings held, finally there has been a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Real Estate Investor of TAF Africa Global Real Estate Company.
Dr. Senesie disclosed further that this affordable housing project would be used to showcase the president’s dream to build micro-cities across Sierra Leone.
“It’s a new direction now in the ministry in line with the president’s agenda, with the provision of affordable housing taking center stage,” he pointed out.
He used the forum as an opportunity to disclose that his administration is attracting and restoring investors and development partners’ trust in the ministry. “There is going to be a new era, a new focus and we are going to have new communities and cities across Sierra Leone. To showcase that, TAF Africa Global is going to be right at the forefront,” the minister emphasised.
The MoU signing is an indication of the seriousness government attaches to provide affordable housing for its citizens, the minister stated, while narrating the evidence of seriousness of the Mustapha Njie’s investment he witnessed in The Gambia which he hopes to replicate in Sierra Leone.
He assured Sierra Leoneans that TAF Africa Global will soon commence physical work in Sierra Leone, adding that the work will provide jobs for many Sierra Leoneans once it is commenced.
He said he is confident that the issue of housing deficit will be a thing of the past with TAF Africa Global in Sierra Leone, while calling on all to join in ensuring Sierra Leone’s housing challenge is settled.
The minister repeatedly warned land grabbers to stop forthwith as the country is now fully ready to transform its land investment.
