Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has outlined an ambitious national housing and land reform agenda aimed at transforming urban development and making land ownership more accessible for Papua New Guineans.
The Prime Minister acknowledged long-standing inefficiencies in the country’s land administration system and reaffirmed Government’s commitment to reform, 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,” Prime Minister Marape said.
As part of this reform push, Government, in partnership with the National Capital District Commission and other agencies, has identified land in Port Moresby’s northeast corridor for major residential development.
“We are looking at creating at least 5,000 new allotments in the city. This is part of a broader plan to provide organised, planned suburban living for our people,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape said priority in land allocation would be given to Papua New Guineans actively contributing to the economy, including workers, small business owners, and taxpayers.
“We want to support workers, SMEs, and those participating in the formal economy. Through structured arrangements with employers and institutions such as the Internal Revenue Commission, we can allocate land more efficiently and transparently,” he said.
He further revealed plans for a long-term, state-supported housing finance scheme designed to enable generational ownership.
“We are designing a 49-year loan programme with State support — an intergenerational model where parents begin ownership and children can continue. This is about building lasting security for families.”
The Prime Minister said Government would also explore voluntary resettlement options for those facing challenges sustaining urban livelihoods.
“Life in the city is not easy. 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 in this country. What we need is coordination, planning, and political will to convert that land into organised settlements and suburbs.”
Prime Minister Marape reiterated that the long-term vision is to modernise 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 organised, serviced communities where our people can live with dignity,” he said.
He also announced plans to establish a dedicated Urbanisation Office to drive reforms in city planning, land access, and settlement upgrading nationwide.
“Government cannot ignore the land issue any longer. This is one of the most critical development challenges we face, and we are taking decisive action to fix it,” Prime Minister Marape said.