The Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) has boosted its provincial operations with an official handing over of brand new motorbikes to its staff in a bid to strengthen maritime safety, monitoring and revenue mobilization across the country.
The handing over ceremony took place on Wednesday 16th September, 2026, at the SLMA Headquarters at Maritime House, Government Wharf in Freetown.
Fifteen brand new XL off terrain motorbikes were handed over and the beneficiaries include: the Maritime Traffic Overseers, regional managers in the north, south and western areas, dispatch riders etc.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Executive Director at Sierra Leone Maritime Administration, Dr. Daniel Kaitibi said the move is part of the Administration’s strategic reforms to decentralize its services and improve efficiency at landing sites, riverine communities and inland waterways.
“Our provincial staff faces huge challenges reaching remote jetties and fishing communities. These motorbikes will enable them to respond faster to safety incidents, conduct inspections, and engage local boat operators on safety standards,” Dr Kaitibi said.
He noted that under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, SLMA has been repositioned to ensure safer seas, create jobs, and increase domestic revenue.
He ended by appealing to beneficiaries to use the bikes judiciously, cautioning that it is a national property and not an individual property.
One of the beneficiaries who also doubles as Western Area Regional Manager, Ishmael Kargbo thanked the Government of Sierra Leone especially His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the Executive Director of Maritime Administration for what he described as “good work”, noting that only them can explain the importance of these bikes.
He revealed that there are areas that are hard-to-reach areas without these bikes, especially these XL bikes, executing their operations would be a daunting task or almost impossible.
“Before now we used to walk miles or hire okada to reach landing sites. These bikes will help us a lot. We thank the Executive Director and management.”
He noted also that today is his happiest to witness the official handing over of those bikes; as according to him, they are doing their work but under a very difficult circumstances.
He concluded by assuring the Executive Director that they are going utilize those bikes for the intended purposes, citing that this was not the first time they have received such gesture. “This is the second time I have received this type of bike. The last one I used for almost ten years,” he said.
The ceremony was climaxed with a symbolic handing over of the 15 motorbikes to beneficiaries by the SLMA Acting Director of Safety.
It could be recalled the SLMA has in recent months intensified life-jacket campaigns, licensing of sea vessels and training of boat operators in collaboration with development partners.
The Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA / SLMARAD) is the national authority that operates and governs the country’s ship registry and maritime sector. Governed under the Merchant Shipping Act (originally 2003, with a revised modern version passed by Parliament on June 11, 2026).
