By: Fatou Krubally
The Ministry of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs has issued a firm warning against the unauthorized occupation of public lands, stressing that such encroachments will not be tolerated.
This warning comes amid the on-going demolitions of illegal structures in the Salagi Residential Layout.
During a press conference on Tuesday, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Administration at the lands ministry, Mr. Momodou Taal, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reclaiming lands designated for public use.
“Encroachments on public lands undermine our development plans and deprive communities of essential services,” Mr. Taal stated. “We cannot allow individuals to illegally occupy and develop these spaces.”
The Salagi Residential Layout, established in 2005, was designed to include residential plots and public spaces for amenities like schools, mosques, and community centers.
However, many of these public areas have remained undeveloped and are increasingly vulnerable to illegal occupation.
Mr. Taal highlighted that unauthorized individuals have demarcated and sold public spaces as private plots, blocked access roads, and erected structures without permits, disrupting the layout’s design and causing disputes.
The Ministry cited several legal frameworks to support the demolitions, including the State Lands Act, the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act, and the Physical Planning and Development Control Act, which require prior approval and permits for developments on State land.
The lands ministry said before initiating the demolitions, it conducted field inspections, served demolition notices, and consulted with local chiefs, police, and community leaders. Despite these efforts, illegal developments continued, prompting the current demolition operations.
The demolition process is being carried out in two phases. The first phase targets illegal structures on public space reserves, while the second will address encroachments on private plots and blocked roads. Uninhabited structures have been removed, while inhabited buildings are awaiting eviction.
Mr. Taal concluded by emphasizing that Salagi is not the only area affected. Similar exercises have been carried out in Nemasu, with plans to address encroachments in Old Yundum, Coastal Layout, Tanji, and Sotokoi.
