Ministry of Lands Pushes Homegrown Building Code to Tackle Unsafe Construction and Poor Urban Planning

Sierra Leone is moving to strengthen oversight of construction and urban planning through a proposed homegrown National Building Code, as the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning pushes reforms to address unsafe building practices, environmental pressure and unregulated development.

Lands Minister Dr. Turad Senessie, speaking at a progress review meeting in Freetown, said the Code will be a major legal and policy tool for promoting safe, orderly and sustainable development across the country.

He said the draft reflects Sierra Leone’s geographical, environmental and development realities, and praised the work of consultants, engineers, architects and the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers for producing a document rooted in local conditions rather than foreign models.

According to the Minister, the review meeting examined progress on the draft, assessed the current stage of the process and mapped out the next steps toward implementation.

To widen public participation, Dr. Senessie directed the Director of Country Planning to organize a two-day validation workshop for local councils, civil society groups, ministries, departments and agencies, development partners and other stakeholders. He said the exercise will give consultants the chance to present the draft in full and allow participants to make contributions before the document goes to Cabinet and later to Parliament.

He said public education and nationwide sensitization will be critical to effective implementation, noting that the Code, once enacted, will operate as a legally enforceable instrument alongside the National Country Planning Act, 2025.

Dr. Senessie also raised concern over the growing pace of unauthorized construction across the country. He said indiscriminate building, poor waste management and disregard for professional standards continue to threaten public safety and environmental sustainability.

He pointed to drainage channels increasingly used as dumping sites and warned that sensitive communities such as Susan’s Bay, Kroo Bay and Murray Town remain exposed to the effects of uncontrolled development.

The Minister further disclosed that reports suggest more than 70 percent of buildings currently under construction are allegedly proceeding without approved permits. He warned that government is preparing stricter enforcement measures and tougher penalties to curb illegal construction and improve compliance with planning regulations.

Lead Consultant Arc. Abel T. Onomake, while presenting the draft Code, said the proposed legislation contains detailed provisions on legal requirements, administration and enforcement, as well as technical standards for building construction and safety.

He said the draft was designed to respond directly to Sierra Leone’s environmental and development challenges while establishing modern standards to support resilience, safety and sustainable urban growth.

Among the proposed reforms, Onomake listed tighter controls on hillside developments, stronger safety standards, mandatory building setbacks, improved fire safety rules, accessibility requirements and better coordination among institutions responsible for planning, environmental protection, public utilities and public safety.

He added that the technical team conducted extensive field assessments across Freetown, including inspections of coastal communities, rivers, streams, drainage systems and hillside settlements. The consultants also reviewed existing planning laws and consulted relevant institutions to ensure the Code addresses present-day development challenges.

The Ministry said the National Building Code, once finalized and enacted, is expected to strengthen Sierra Leone’s planning framework, improve public safety, protect the environment and support more orderly and resilient national development.