Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has unveiled an ambitious national housing and land reform agenda aimed at reshaping urban development and improving access to land ownership for Papua New Guineans.
He acknowledged persistent inefficiencies within the country’s land administration system and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to reforms, building on policy directions introduced in 2020.
“Accessing land titles in this country should not feel like going to the moon and back. We are reforming this system to make it easier, faster, and fairer,” the Prime Minister said.
As part of the initiative, the Government, in partnership with the National Capital District Commission and other agencies, has identified land in Port Moresby’s northeast corridor for large-scale residential development.
“We are planning to create at least 5,000 new allotments in the city as part of a broader vision to deliver organized and well-planned suburban living,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape said land allocation would prioritize Papua New Guineans actively contributing to the economy, including workers, small business owners, and taxpayers.
“We want to support workers, SMEs, and those in the formal economy. Through structured arrangements with employers and institutions such as the Internal Revenue Commission, land can be allocated more efficiently and transparently,” he said.
He also revealed plans for a long-term, state-supported housing finance scheme designed to promote generational ownership.
“We are developing a 49-year loan programme backed by the State — an intergenerational model where parents begin ownership, and children can continue. This is about building long-term security for families,” he said.
The Prime Minister added that the Government will explore voluntary resettlement options for individuals struggling to sustain urban livelihoods.
“City life is challenging. For those who wish to return home, we will work with provincial governments to support resettlement and reintegration,” he said.
At the national level, he called for stronger collaboration between provincial governments and urban authorities to unlock land for structured development.
“We have land in abundance. What we need is coordination, planning, and the political will to convert that land into organized settlements and suburbs,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape reiterated that the long-term vision is to modernize Papua New Guinea’s cities and replace unplanned settlements with properly designed communities.
“Our goal is to eliminate unplanned settlements by 2030, or no later than 2035, and replace them with organized, serviced communities where people can live with dignity,” he said.
He also announced plans to establish a dedicated Urbanization Office to drive nationwide reforms in city planning, land access, and settlement upgrading.
“Government can no longer ignore the land issue. It is one of the most critical development challenges we face, and we are taking decisive action to address it,” the Prime Minister said.
