15,000 acres returned to owners after 42 years

After more than four decades of waiting, 15,000 acres of land was finally returned to the rightful owners; a move Government says restores not just land, but dignity and opportunity.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo confirmed that 15,000 acres of land have been handed back to landowning units after 42 years of negotiations and delays.

He told parliament that for too long, land had been treated as something “static” something to look at, or worse, something to mourn when lost.

“That must change,” Mr Vosarogo said.

He stressed that the return of land is only the beginning. He warned that simply handing land back is not enough if left unused.

“Land reversion is not the finish line, it is the start,” he said.

Government now wants landowners to turn that land into real opportunities, through farming, business, and development.

Mr Vosarogo urged landowners to “roll up your sleeves” and make use of what has been returned.

Plans are already in place to support this shift. The Ministry is working with agriculture experts for soil testing and crop planning, and with financial institutions to make funding more accessible for landowners who want to develop their land.

Mr Vosarogo also revealed that each reverted land title could soon be supported by a team, including a technical advisor, financial advisor and a banker to help landowners succeed.

He said the goal was clear: to turn land into a driver of economic growth, jobs and income for families.

“We are not just returning acres,” he said.

“We are returning possibility, dignity and opportunity.”

The announcement marks one of the largest land reversions in recent years, and signals a shift in how land will be used moving forward, not just as heritage, but as a foundation for Fiji’s economic future.

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