By Abu Bakarr Kanu, Port Loko District
The Port Loko District Council has raised serious concerns over alleged tax non-compliance by the Freetown International Airport (FNA), situated in Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom, Lungi-Masolia. The accusation was made by Chief Administrator Mr. Arthur Alieu during the Bilateral Budget Hearing on own-source revenue mobilization for the 2026 Fiscal Year.
Mr. Alieu described the airport as a major tax defaulter, despite its strategic location and the economic opportunities it generates. He noted that under the previous management by the Sierra Leone Airports Authority, the airport fulfilled its tax obligations, enabling the council to fund vital community service delivery projects. However, since the transition to new management, efforts to secure tax compliance have reportedly failed.
“Repeated interventions by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, along with inter-ministerial engagements, have yielded no results,” Mr. Alieu stated. He added that businesses operating within the airport premises continue to benefit from exemptions that deprive the council of critical revenue needed for infrastructure and social services across the district’s thirteen chiefdoms.
Calling for urgent action, Mr. Alieu appealed to the Government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and the Media to support the council in holding the airport management accountable. He warned that without contributions from such a significant economic hub, the council’s ability to deliver development projects will remain severely constrained.
“The Freetown International Airport benefits from the land and resources of Port Loko District, yet it contributes nothing to the district’s development. This situation must change if we are serious about equitable service delivery and local development,” Mr. Alieu emphasized.
The statement has sparked renewed debate over fiscal responsibility and equitable development, with stakeholders now looking to national authorities for decisive intervention.