Minister of Internal Affairs To Curb Lawlessness and Sanitation Breaches

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Rtd AIG Morie Lengor Esq, has launched a decisive national campaign to combat growing lawlessness, poor sanitation, and unsafe urban practices, starting with the heart of the capital city. The operation began in the Central Business District (CBD) of Freetown, where street crime, illegal vending, reckless driving, and mounting filth have long frustrated residents and visitors.

Flanked by top officials, including the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sahr Y. Senesi, who heads the inter-agency task force, the Minister expressed strong determination to restore public order. The task force includes officers from the Sierra Leone Police, Freetown City Council, the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), and other critical agencies.

“Citizens are fed up with the disorder. We hear them, and we are acting,” Lengor said, while touring affected areas. “Having a license does not mean you can block roads or footpaths. There must be order.”

Already, operations have targeted major CBD hotspots where congestion and street trading have made movement nearly impossible. The initiative will now extend to 23 additional streets as identified by Freetown City Council.

The crackdown follows rising public concern over safety, sanitation, and declining civic discipline in urban areas. Reckless behaviour by motorbike riders (okadas), illegal waste dumping, unregulated construction, and loud music in residential zones have all contributed to a sense of chaos in public life. Many citizens have blamed weak enforcement and political interference for the deteriorating situation.

“We’re not just dealing with nuisances—some of these practices are dangerous. Illegal construction and blocked drains increase flood risks. Loud nightclubs cause unrest. Public transport chaos puts lives at risk,” Lengor warned.

The Minister urged citizens to adopt the same civic responsibility they display abroad. He emphasized that national transformation depends on local behaviour change and a shared sense of ownership over public spaces.

This campaign follows years of stalled efforts to restore urban order in Freetown. In 2012, the government launched “Operation WID” (Waste, Illegal structures, and Disorderly conduct), a similar initiative that made temporary gains but collapsed due to poor coordination and lack of political will. In 2019, under the Freetown City Council’s Transform Freetown agenda, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr introduced several sanitation and urban order programs—yet many were met with resistance and inconsistent enforcement from central authorities.

Now, with full ministerial backing and inter-agency coordination, the latest campaign is seen as a more comprehensive attempt to sustain public order.

To support rapid response and reporting, the Minister announced the full functionality of the police emergency line 900, which is now accessible across all mobile networks. Citizens are encouraged to report incidents such as loud music, disorderly conduct, or unlicensed commercial activity.

“This is not just a government matter it’s a national responsibility,” the Minister concluded. “Together, we can clean our cities, protect our people, and show the world that Sierra Leone is serious about law, order, and dignity.”