State House sources have confirmed that the President has instructed the Chief Minister at State House to constitute a special committee to investigate the sale or lease of the Hastings Airfield land situated in the Western Rural District.
Reports indicate that NCP (National Commission for Privatization) and the Sierra Leone Airports Authority allegedly approved the sale or lease of a vast portion of the Hastings Airstrip to a private company without the knowledge of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority.
Another report states that the Ministry of Transport and Aviation also approved the sale of a portion of the Hastings Airfield land to a private businessman, Ahmed Mackie for the construction of a cement factory.
The Ministry of Lands and Country Planning confirmed last night that they were aware of the Mackie deal but they refused to elaborate.
Because of the controversy surrounding the two separate transactions, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has instructed the Chief Minister at State House to investigate the matter.
Police have been instructed to stop all development work on the Hastings Airfield land until the matter is properly investigated by the Chief Minister.
Investigations continue.
