A landmark moment was celebrated in the District of Vitogo, Ba, as Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka officially handed over land titles for 3,177 acres of ancestral land to five mataqali after more than a century. The land, originally acquired by the colonial government in 1924 under Native Grant 187 for the Lautoka Water Supply Catchment, has now been restored to its rightful traditional owners: Nadakuvatu of Saru Village, Noi Batiri of Namoli Village, Vidilo of Namoli Village, Matarasiga of Vitogo, and Tunuloa of Vitogo.
Cabinet had approved the reversion in 1999, retaining only essential public areas such as the Tavakubu Cemetery, water infrastructure, and forestry land. Prime Minister Rabuka described the handover as an act of justice and trust, fulfilling commitments made many years ago and reaffirming the deep cultural significance of land to the iTaukei people.
This historic return not only restores ancestral rights but also strengthens the bond between the Government and landowning communities, ensuring that justice, respect, and cultural heritage remain central to Fiji’s development journey.