Councillors call for review and cancellation of “unfair” land contracts

Two Male' City councillors have proposed the cancellation of land lease contracts awarded during the mayoralty of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, citing irregularities, lack of transparency, and violations of council procedures.  

The proposal was submitted to Mayor Adam Azim by Galolhu North Councillor Mohamed Saif Fathih and Galolhu West Councillor Mariyam Nazima Mohamed Faiz.  

The councillors highlighted errors and inconsistencies in the land lease data recently published by the council.  

One example cited was the lease of Alimas Carnival land to Vasmeeru Private Holdings Pvt Ltd. While the public listing stated the plot size as 1,309 square feet, a letter signed by the council’s secretary general on October 30 indicated the area was 2,530 square feet, a discrepancy of 1,221 square feet.  

The councillors also pointed to unequal pricing and terms. In one case, T&C Pvt Ltd was leased 2,026 square feet of land for MVR 29,260 per month with a 20-year term and an upfront payment of MVR 500,000. The next day, a plot of the same size and location was leased to Salesco Pvt Ltd for just MVR 10,000 per month, under identical terms.  

The councillors noted that on June 14, 2023, the council’s Standing Orders were amended to require majority approval at a general sitting for any land handover. Despite this, 18 plots of land were leased out after the amendment, without being tabled before the council.  

Some of these leases were reportedly tied to investment conditions or linked to routine services like sweeping and cleaning. However, the councillors argue that the plots are being traded without delivering promised services or investments.  

“These 18 contracts were never brought to the council floor. There is no legal basis for their validity,” the letter stated.  

The councillors have called for:  

• A full review of all land contracts to assess fairness and compliance  

• Public disclosure of whether contractual obligations have been fulfilled  

• Cancellation of contracts issued after June 14, 2023 without council approval  

• Reclamation of plots where obligations remain unmet  

They requested that the matter be placed on the agenda for the next official general meeting of the Male' City Council.  

Councillor Mariyam Nazima and I have proposed the following be placed on next week’s @MaleCitymv jalsa agenda:

1) Review all contracts; reassess all terms, conditions, and required investments linked to land plots to ensure they align with value-for-money principles + broader… pic.twitter.com/Ly4CXgTht8

— Saif Fathih (@aekofathih) November 26, 2025

The council has separately released details of flats, land plots, premises, and market stalls leased in Male' and Vilimale'.