By Amin Kef-Ranger
One of the dominant companies that have been making steady progress, growing exponentially within the business landscape of this country is indisputably NP-Sierra Leone Ltd. It is widely acknowledged that the company has dominated the petroleum trade in the country based on its proactive stance with regards the importation and marketing of high grade petroleum products including petrol, diesel, gas and lubricants of which one is the widely sought Castrol oil.
Being an indigenous company that cherishes its numerous customers, NP-SL Ltd, over the years, has placed high premium on customer care, which it has effectively rolled out over the years to such an extent that it has earned the enviable reputation of 1st for Customer Care. It is within that realm that the initial shareholders of the company, thirty-five (35) of them, thought it entrepreneurially prudent to import and install modern calibrated machines at all its Filling Stations.
These are automated and high precision machines which have the capability of pumping the exact quantity of fuel that a particular buyer or customer requests for, displaying quantity (in litres) as well as the price(s). With these machines, contrary to what used to obtain in the past when less sophisticated pumping machines were used, customers have sincerely attested that they do derive utmost satisfaction whenever they do transactions expressing the belief that the process is really transparent.
Within that same domain of satisfying and providing care for its customers, the company made it a must that all its Filling Stations should have safety regulations. That is why it cautions its customers and others that they should not use naked flame, that mobile phones should be switched off, engines must also be switched off at Filling Stations when fuel is pumped among others.
In order to ensure that fuel is distributed timely to all its Filling Stations in the country, the company has maintained a fleet of tankers (vehicles that transport fuel) and they are regularly maintenance in order to ensure that they are roadworthy.
With the avowed objective of making fuel transactions easier and very convenient for its esteemed and numerous customers, the company again introduced the brilliant idea of introducing the use of NP Smart Card. This is a cashless way of transacting business or in other words purchasing fuel without using physical cash. The holder of an NP Smart Card could present the card at any Filling Station, as long as it contains money, and request for the quantity of fuel he or she requires.
The card is then slotted into the pumping machine with the subsequent discharge of the amount of fuel into a car or jerry can. This method of conducting cashless transaction is very advantageous in the sense that a customer is saved the hassle of intermittently rushing to the bank to withdraw cash for the sole purpose of purchasing fuel. This is so because already his or her NP Smart Card is loaded with money for that purpose. Indeed, it also provides security as the card is securitized only having the particulars of the holder which cannot be used by another person.
Human beings cannot exist in the absence of food as it is a basic necessity of life. Food is prepared in various ways but one popular way of doing so is by cooking. In this part of the world, most households are dependent on largely using wood and charcoal for cooking purposes. However, the cutting down of trees to be used as wood and charcoal have been frowned upon by environmentalists on the grounds that such is contributing negatively to the depletion of the environment and pose other adverse consequences on the ecosystem.
Against this backdrop, the Shareholders and Management of the company thought it fit that to assuage that they must introduce a safer way of cooking. It was out of this idea that the initiative of introducing an environmentally cooking device arose and NP Gas was borne. Manufactured in different cylinder sizes, NP Gas has a high precision performance and to refill it is simple as the gas could be accessed at all the company’s Filling Stations in the country. Many whom have tried them intimated this medium that it is worth having at home and one could never regret having it but would rather recommend it to others.
A company that has vibrant branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia speaks volumes of a serious company that is determined to grow. In all those countries, the company employs indigenes and is paying taxes to the Governments which in turn are used to fund various development programmes.
From what have been said so far, prudent managerial initiatives have catapulted the company to be the leading petroleum marketing company in the country.
Import Duty on Rice Will Not Boost Farming!
By Amin Kef Sesay
It appears as if this Government is bent on fooling the people. This is because ever since President Julius Maada Bio came to power following a very controversial and rejected June 24, 2023 election results, his mission seems to be more bent on telling lies and half-truths than actually laying the bare truth.
Against this background, the Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, has informed Sierra Leoneans that the 5% import duty on rice is not new but is being restored in order to boost local rice production in the country. According to him, the 2024 Finance Act will not only raise revenue for the Government but also protect and promote local rice production in the country.
He stated that this proposal will support the Feed Salone programme by ring-fencing the funds from this tax to support local rice production.
To most social commentators, analysts and political pundits these words simply reflect what is called “intelligent nonsense.”
Whilst appearing to sound intelligent, when properly dissected and analyzed it makes no sense at all. How on earth can we expect 5% import duty on rice to not affect the price of a 25Kg or 50Kg bag of rice in this country? The Government’s argument is that, this 5% import duty on rice is not a new phenomenon but a restoration after it was suspended in 2009 due to economic crisis around the world.
The Government further argues that this 5% import duty on rice will not in any way affect the price of a bag of rice because at the time when there was no import tax on rice, the price of a bag of rice spiraled out of control anyway!
The hard fact is that the Government is either not telling us the whole truth, or is hiding something up its sleeve. The harsh reality is that, there is no way this Government can convincingly convince a starving, broke and disillusioned nation like ours, not to fret over this 5% import duty on rice because all is not well as even the least man knows that whatever tax is imposed on rice or on any other essential commodity,definitely results in more suffering and more pain for the ordinary masses.
The whole scenario smacks of hypocrisy and high-handedness on the part of the government. It seems to many people as if this particular Government is taking citizens of this country for granted without thinking about the repercussion a hungry and angry man can cause!
We say this with caution because if things continue going on in this fashion, then we are afraid!