Urban upgrade: 9-mile residents secure legal land titles

More than 20,000 people living in the Makana Morobe Block at 9-Mile, Port Moresby, have received official land titles from the state, under the Settlement to Suburb Transformation Project.

The initiative, led by the government, aims to convert informal settlements into properly planned suburbs with improved infrastructure and legal land ownership.

Prime Minister James Marape formally presented the state lease titles to NCD Governor Powes Parkop and Member for Moresby North-East John Kaupa at a ceremony held in Port Moresby yesterday.

The North-East electorate is made up of approximately 60% unplanned settlements, a growing concern for local MP Kaupa. To address this, he introduced the Settlement to Suburb Program, which seeks to create viable, organized suburbs and foster discipline and social order within communities.

The 9-Mile Makana Morobe Block is one of the program’s key success stories. According to Kaupa, the land Portion 1006, originally belonged to the Department of Education but was legally acquired following consultations with Education Minister Lukas Dekena and Lands Minister John Rosso.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Marape acknowledged the challenges faced in securing land titles, and urged residents to now respect the rule of law, customary landowners, and the business community.

“This is a great achievement, but with it comes responsibility. Let us work together to maintain peace, respect, and development,” Marape said.

Kaupa thanked the Marape-Rosso Government for supporting his vision and making the transformation of settlements into suburbs a reality.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop also praised the initiative, saying it will play a critical role in transforming the nation’s capital.

Additional state lease titles will be distributed in the coming weeks to portions 1221 [14-mile], 3509 [Farea] and 2709 [9-mile]