Informal settlements in Fiji are posing significant challenges for the government due to their unplanned structures and inadequate access to essential services and infrastructure, according to Maciu Nalumisa, the Minister for Housing.
Since 2010, as part of the informal settlement upgrade initiative, the ministry has secured development consent for 48 informal settlements from the Department of Lands. Among these, 44 settlements are situated on iTaukei land, while four are on state land.
Nalumisa indicated that these development leases are distributed across Fiji, with 13 settlements in the Central Division, 14 in the Northern Division, and 21 in the Western Division. Notably, 31 of the 48 land leases were obtained in just two years, specifically 2017 and 2018.
Currently, these settlements are undergoing the process of lot allocation.