Socfin Agricultural Company, Sierra Leone Limited has on Saturday September 6th , 2025 paid Land Lease for Zone "C " at a special ceremony held in Sahn Malen as witnessed by Pujehun District stakeholders including cross section of Civil Society Organisations, Pujehun District Officer, Commanding Officer , 14 Battalion, ONS, Agricultural Officer, Journalists from both print and electronics media amongst many others .

The lease payments of one million two hundred eighty thousand and ninety two new Leones (1, 280,092 ) is in line with the agreement between the lessee and the govt of the Republic of Sierra Leone for the period September 2025 to 4th September 2026 .

The area of Zone "C " is 13 , 907 . 17 acres x 4.04686 USD / acre=USD 56,280.41amounting to 1,280,092 New Money (one million two hundred eighty thousand and ninety two New money ) at the best commercial bank exchange rate obtainable.

Addressing all on behalf of the General Manager , Mr. Olivier Martin , the Liaison Manager , Mr. Joseph Belmoh gave a rundown of the payments as per legislation which comprises 50% paid to land owners , 20% paid to Pujehun District Council, another 20 % to Malen Chiefdom Administration while 10 % is paid to govt annually.

The Liaison Manager disclosed that plans are ongoing for payments to be transfered to the banks come 2026 all been well . Speaking at the ceremony both the Chiefdom Speaker S R Moiguah and Regent Chief Alex Lamin profusely commended Socfin Sierra Leone for fulfillments of it's obligations particularly for it's prompt honouring of what they refered to as impressive CSR including building and furnishing of schools , payments of stipends for teachers whose names are not on the payroll , provisions of ongoing scholarships , constructions of roads, payments of local taxes , immensely providing felt needed facilities alongside giving solar lights , water wells , toilets and other facilities for the community in Malen Chiefdom and beyond as necessary, not forgetting additional care for health facilities and ambulance services , cultivations of boli lands and IVS rice farms for communities years ongoing.

Socfin they stated is currently employing over four thousand work force drawn nation wide . For their parts the District Officer , Adama Koroma, 14th Battalion Commander , Lt .Col Alice Koria Sesay , LUC , Mustapha Senesie all praised Socfin Sierra Leone for good work done and further reassures of continues govt commitments and further encouraged the people of Malen Chiefdom to remain peaceful and to work together with the company for peaceful co-existence.

Earlier the Pujehun District Agricultural Officer, Lucy Koker called on land owning families to make good use of the monies paid.
Credit: Easmon Moiguah in Sahn Malen