UNAIDS Executive Director Commends Pres. Bio for Commitment to Girls’ Education & Girls’ Safety

September 21, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

The Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima, has on the 19^th September, 2022 praised His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio for his leadership and sought support to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV during a courtesy call on the margins of the Transforming Education Summit.

She commended the President for his commitment to girls’ education and girls’ safety and spoke about the importance of introducing core textbooks on sexuality education in schools as a way of addressing sexual violence out of school and introducing sexual reproductive services to support adolescent girls.

Winnie Byanyima expressed concern about the increase in the number of children living with HIV, adding that UNAIDS would be starting a programme to focus on increasing HIV treatment for children to reduce mother-to-child transmission. She also praised the First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio, for being a great champion in supporting girls in her country and the region.

“Our continent needs more leaders like you,” UNAIDS Executive Director told President Julius Maada Bio.

In response, President Bio said safety for girls in school was very important and that sex education should be part of the curriculum because it was very fundamental for girls.

He also highlighted his Government’s efforts at addressing sexual violence, including reforming the laws, establishing sexual model courts and the complementary actions being undertaken by the First Lady. He also stated that sexual reproductive service was very necessary for girls.

“We are looking at innovative learning methods and I want to encourage more role models for young girls,” the President stated, assuring the UNAIDS Executive Director of his support to increase treatment for children living with HIV, thereby reducing the mother-to-child transmission.

Caritas Freetown Organizes One Day Dialogue Session for Police Officers & Youth

September 21, 2022

By Millicent Senava Mannah

Caritas Freetown, with support from Trocaire, Gianondo and other sponsors, has on the 20th September, 2022, organized a one- day Police and Youth Dialogue Session on the theme: “Preventing and Managing Violent Election-Related Conflicts”, targeting personnel of the Sierra Leone Police Force and the Youth. The event took place at Kondi Hall, Yam’s Farm in the Western Rural District.

Giving an overview of the event, the National Director of Caritas Sierra Leone National Office, Aloysius K. Kamara, stated that many a time there have been misunderstandings between the Youth and Police with the two often blaming each other.

According to him, they convened the dialogue for the two parties to have better understanding of themselves as the country is fast approaching the electioneering period.

He encouraged the youths to always maintain peace, national cohesion and to refrain from all forms of violence furthering that they should not allow themselves to be used by any set of people or individuals to perpetrate violence.

Aloysius K. Kamara also admonished the Police to carry out their duties responsibly stating that they should be in a position to manage conflicts amicably.

Rev. Father Peter A. Konteh, in his keynote address, noted that the dialogue is indeed timely as it comes during an important period, when the country is preparing for General Elections to be held in 2023.

He continued by stating that bringing the two sides together is geared towards promoting dialogue and greater understanding among the Police, the Electoral Commission and Youth on their roles and responsibilities to prevent and manage violent election related conflicts in order to ensure an enabling peaceful environment is achieved before, during and after the elections.

Rev. Father Konteh maintained that during electoral processes and elections, the security forces, especially the Police have a central role in providing security and ensuring safety during voter’s registration exercises, political rallies and events, transportation of election-sensitive materials and keeping peace on Polling day.

“The Youth also have an indispensable role to play in determining Sierra Leone’s progress towards a more peaceful, democratic and prosperous country,” Father Peter Konteh intimated.

“You will agree that violence and electoral politics are no strangers to one another on the African continent. Sierra Leone not been an exception is entering an important societal and political period. Tensions and stress are already on high levels due to the difficult economic situation and significant increases in living costs over the past year,” he stated.

Father Peter Konteh said out of experience over the past years, this is the time when tension and disagreement mount and competition for ideas and underlying conflicts can become violent.

“So it is during this time that dialogue, communication, patience, and empathy are paramount, ” Father Konteh stated.

He disclosed that the youths are the most affected when violence and conflicts related to elections erupt and according to him they are also the perpetrators of violence during elections.

“Conflict prevention is not a business for the faint hearted, those looking for quick returns or congenital pessimists,” he informed.

He recommended that it is essential for all to work together to ensure that the 2022 elections and democratic processes will be held in a peaceful environment.

Marie Bangura, Chairperson of the Western Area Rural District Youth Council commended the organization for organizing a dialogue session between the Police and the Youths adding that it is very timely after the August 10 violent protest.

She further admonished youth participants to deviate from violence and also cascade the information and knowledge gained to their colleagues back home.

Lansana Fofanah, Head of Operations of the Special Division of the Waterloo Police Station told the participants that Police are not their enemies, and should not be seen as targets.

He stated that they are carrying weapons as a protection for themselves and not to harm anybody but to serve the people underscoring at the end of the day they are all civilians maintaining that they and the Youth must come together to push the country forward.

Mohamed Turay, Chairman of the Bike Riders East said one of the causes of conflict between the parties is that the Police Officers see the Youths as a threat continuing that as riders they suffer too much harassment from the Police.

He revealed that as a leader he was able to mobilize his fellow bike riders to refrain from the violence that took place on August 10.

Rebecca Moseray, one of the participants, thanked the organization for such an educative dialogue and stated how she would go back to her community and pass on the message she has learnt.

The event was climaxed by a group work to come up with solutions related to how the two parties can be united to maintain law and order for the forthcoming elections to be violence-free and very peaceful.

Caritas Freetown

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Report on Xinjiang Is Hypocritical

September 19, 2022

A Commentary By Amin Kef Sesay (Ranger)

In recent times there have been rising tensions between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China as the US continues to contain China from rising. There is a school of thought that holds the notion that the West is jittery over the rapid development of China and therefore is bent on using various ways of weakening that nation.

On the 2nd August, 2022, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, paid a controversial visit to Taiwan amidst stiff protest from China, sending a wrong signal to the Taiwan separatist forces. Recently, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is marking-up the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022, another serious hollowing of the one China policy. The world has clearly seen the hypocritical nature of the United States and some Western countries.

In the same hypocritical manner, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recently released the UN Human Rights Report on China’s Xinjiang region in which it accuses China of gross human rights violations.

However, the “report”, which was compiled by certain people by the order of the US and some Western countries, has not got authorization from the UN Human Rights Council and has no credible basis. Therefore, it is a “product with no factual basis, no authority and no credibility”. This “report” and the so-called assessment in particular are merely a patchwork of disinformation and a political tool serving the US and some Western forces to contain China.

According to analysts, the “assessment” is neither objective nor professional and it is totally made to cater for the anti-China forces’ needs to further hype the topics on China’s Xinjiang region.

The report downplays how badly the Xinjiang region had suffered from terrorism and extremism maintaining that any Government in the world should take responsibility in fighting against terrorism to protect local residents.

The “report” was based on testimony from a carefully-selected 40 “interviewees” to jump to the “conclusion” that there are serious human rights violations in Xinjiang. Experts have pointed out that the US and some Western forces offered fund to the OHCHR to deploy remote “monitoring” on some developing countries and made “reviews” or “assessments” on these countries or some regions’ human rights situation by interviewing “victims” or “survivors” or taking dubious pictures.

Therefore, such a “report” seriously violates the mandate of the OHCHR, infringing on the non-political and objective principles. It once again proved that the OHCHR has descended into an enforcer and accomplice of the US and some Western forces against the developing countries.

It has been established that the Xinjiang region has enjoyed economic development with local residents living a happy and stable life in recent years. Foreign diplomats and visitors who visited the Xinjiang region also pointed out that the real Xinjiang is opposite to what the Western media have described.

However, the vicious political scheme by the US and some Western forces to contain China by using the Xinjiang topic is doomed to fail as the Chinese are determined to counter Western propaganda. China stands resolute and will continue to pursue its political and socio-economic policies which it believes have catapulted it to a great nation with shared prosperity.

While China will never succumb to those antics and will continue to resist them with all its might and right, the vast developing countries need to realize that they must stand with China to resist such smearing campaign against China. If some Western powers achieve their goal of humiliating and subjugating China, then they will do whatever they can to bully smaller countries in the future.

Peace Commission Engages District Stakeholders

September 19, 2022

By Fatmatta Kamara Jalloh

The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) has commenced its district engagements targeting various districts in the country.

The district engagements are part of efforts to formally introduce the Commission to the people at district level and to brief them about the Commission’s undertakings since its inception, it plans and to discuss how as a people can be part of the Commission’s goal of ensuring peace and national cohesion.

In attendance during the meeting held at the Kambia District Council Hall were the Paramount Chiefs from Magbema, Masumgbala, Mambolo and Gbinle, Chiefdom Speakers, youth and women’s groups, students, civil society, bike riders and motor drivers unions, the disabled and war wounded and other community stakeholders.

The Director of Conflict Resolution and Management, Charles Lahai, did a short presentation on the background to the formation of the Commission, the 20th anniversary of the Peace in Sierra Leone as well as the International Day of Peace which will be commemorated by the Commission and it partners on the 21^st September on the theme: “End Tribalism, Build Peace and National Cohesion”.

He also spoke about the 11-year war, its consequences on the country and the structures put in place thereafter to address some of the causes that led to the war, including the setting up of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

He said that the Peace Commission, whose main objective is to develop strategies for conflict resolution, prevention and management will also address some of the recommendations of the TRC in order to promote lasting peace and national cohesion

Charles Lahai also informed the meeting about the development of the Commission’s 3-year strategic plan, a blue print for the implementation of the Commission’s objectives and called on the people to support the Commission in its work underscoring that without peace there can be no development.

The host Paramount Chief and Paramount Chief Member of Parliament for Kambia district, Pc Bai FaramaTass Bubu Ngak11 lauded the decision by the Management to take the Commission to the districts as well as engaging the people, which he said is long overdue.

He commended the Commission for the work done so far despite being in existence for a short time and reiterated the importance of peace to the development of the country.

The Chief told the meeting that Kambia has been one of the most peaceful districts in the country, because they as chiefs from the various chiefdoms have always endeavored to work as one, putting the interests of their people and the country first.

PC Farama Tass said that despite the cosmopolitan nature of the Kambia the district has remained united with inter-marriages and even people from other parts of the country well integrated into the community, making Kambia a model when it comes to national cohesion.

Speaking on the theme of this year’s International Day of Peace, the Paramount Chief Member of Parliament said the problem in Sierra Leone is not tribalism, but politics, which according to him has been the main cause of our problems.

“Let people put politics at the backseat of this country because it is the main driver of conflict in the country,” he admonished and reiterated his commitment and willingness to work with the Commission whenever called upon.

His sentiments were re-echoed by the other Paramount Chiefs and local authorities who also urged the Commission to continue its engagement noting that the people have a key role to play in the work of the Commission for it to succeed.

As custodians of peace, the Chiefs spoke of their common aspirations to bring development to their districts and pledged to continue working together to maintain peace in Kambia district, as well as consolidating peace in the entire country.

They admonished the Commission to remain independent pointing out that it is only when the Commission is independent and approaches issues independently that it can gain the confidence of the people.

Representatives of women, youth, civil society, the transport sector and students groups, while stressing the importance of the Commission, spoke on the need for them as key stakeholders to be involved in the work.

A representative of the war wounded called for more attention to be paid to them as well as for the full implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Hawa Samai, while commending the Chiefs and other stakeholders for responding to the Commission’s invitation assured that the Commission will ensure that the people are part of its activities pointing out that the staff cannot do it alone.

She disclosed plans for the creation of the “Most Peaceful District”, where prizes will be given to the most peaceful district in the country, which is also part of efforts to promote a culture of peace in the country.

The Director of Communications in her welcome address earlier said the large turnout of especially Paramount Chiefs was a clear manifestation of their commitment to the peace and stability of the county. She acknowledged the importance of local authorities to the sustenance of peace saying she looks forward to their continued support for the work of the Commission.

The Deputy Executive Secretary, Moses Margo, the Director of Conflict Prevention, Philip Bona and the Director of Monitoring , Evaluation and Learning at the Peace Commission, Lilian Wilberforce, made meaningful contributions during the programme.

A Similar engagement was held in Port Loko district on Thursday which was day 2 of the district engagement.

The meeting at the Red Cross Hall in Port Loko city was also graced by a large number of local and traditional leaders from Maforki, Bakeloko, Sanda Magbolontor and Marampa chiefdoms and other stakeholders.

The Chiefdom Speaker of Bakeloko, M A Tarawally, reiterated the timeliness and importance of the Commission and appealed for the commission to be given the necessary support to make it effective. The district engagements continued in Bo and Moyamba.

A key highlight of the engagement was the identification of key Civil Society Organizations in the various districts for the setting up networks/coalitions which the Commission can work with, leveraging on their expertise and understanding of the issues in their respective districts.

Information Minister Commends Ambassador to Saudi Arabia for Newsletters

September 19, 2022

By Abubakarr Bah, Information Attaché Saudi Arabia

Dr. Ibrahim Jalloh, Ambassador Extra-ordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ibrahim Jalloh on September 15, 2022, during a courtesy called on the Minister of Information and Communications and presented copies of two editions of the Embassy’s newsletter.

Ambassador Jalloh, while presenting copies of the newsletter of the Sierra Leone Embassy in Saudi Arabia, said the first edition gives a detailed account of the bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and Oman. He said it also features the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Professor David John Francis, to the Kingdom.

The second and latest edition, he said, gives a comprehensive coverage of the 2022 Hajj and an insight into the differences between Hajj and Umrah. He said other issues covered include the recent visit of the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Osman Alpha Timbo, meant for the signing of two Labour Agreements between the two countries.

The Ambassador commended the Government and Minister of Information for assigning Abubakarr Bah as Information Attaché to the Sierra Leone Embassy in Saudi Arabia, describing him as a very hardworking staff.

Responding, the Minister of Information and Communications, Hon. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, commended the Ambassador for the courtesy call. He said he was very pleased to receive the copies of the newsletter. The Minister also commended the Information Attaché Abubakarr Bah and encouraged him to keep up the good work.

Copies of the newsletter were also presented to the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Solomon Jamiru Esq.

Ambassador Jalloh earlier this week presented copies of the newsletter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Professor David Francis, and top officials of the Ministry, the Minister of Social Welfare, Madam Baindu Dassama, her Deputy, Mohamed Kella, as well as the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Ambassador Jalloh was accompanied by the Information Attaché of the Embassy, Abubakarr Bah.

In another related development, the Information Attaché of the Embassy, Abubakarr Bah on behalf of the Ambassador presented copies of the Newsletter to the Chairman of the Independent Media Commission (IMC), Dr. Victor Massaquoi and the Sierra Leone Library Board in Freetown.

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), the Universities and the Library of the Sierra Leone Parliament would also be given copies of the two editions of the Embassy newsletter.

Chinese Embassy Aids Flood Victims with NLe 150,000 via Social Welfare Ministry

September 19, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Hu Zhangliang, on behalf of the Embassy, on the 13^th September, 2022 donated Le150,000 (New Leones) to the Ministry of Social Welfare for further donation to the affected families of the recent flood disaster in Freetown.

“China and Sierra Leone have always been true friends. We hope this donation can be of some help to those who lost their loved ones or properties in the flood. This is to show our sympathy, support and friendship,” Ambassador Hu said.

Upon receiving the donation, Hon. Minister Baindu Dassama Kamara of the Ministry of Social Welfare thanked the Chinese Embassy for such an important and timely gesture. The Honorable Minister promised that her Ministry will make sure that the donation will be used for its intended purposes and be distributed to the needy as soon as possible.

Statistician-General Hands Over First Digital Mid-Term Census Report to President Bio

September 19, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

The Statistician-General and Chief Executive Officer of Statistics Sierra Leone, Prof. Osman Alimamy Sankoh, on Thursday 15th September 2022 presented ,at State House, the first fully digital Mid-Term National Population and Housing Census report to President Julius Maada Bio.

Before the presentation Prof. Sankoh stated: “Statistics Sierra Leone is pleased to report that intensive data reviews did not result in a significant change in the provisional results. There are a total of 7,061 individuals added to the provisional total reported. This confirms the robust processes we put in place and, consequently, the high-quality data we have generated.”

Prof. Sankoh also noted that they achieved the objectives of the 2021 Mid-Term Population and Housing Census through the digital methodology used, starting with the cartographic mapping and ending with the main enumeration.

“Sierra Leone can now be proud of having conducted its first digital census like a few other African countries. We will henceforth be able to provide population data at the locality, ward, section, chiefdom, council, district, and regional levels, and due to the digital methods used, this data can be generated promptly,” he assured.

He said they were able to cover 24,000 Enumeration Areas nationwide, which gave data of a total of 850,599 structures recorded nationwide and that the final 2021 Mid-Term Population and Housing Census results totaled 7,548,702 individuals in the country.

Receiving the report, President Bio stated that no one has been prosecuted for spreading hate messages, misinformation, disturbing the peace and threatening enumerators.

“Politicians and some of their henchmen are on record spreading incendiary messages and persons associated with them acted to impede the work of enumerators – in some cases threatening them with physical violence…All is forgiven for the sake of national cohesion and peace.

“For the first time in the history of this nation, we have used cutting-edge technology and digitalization to conduct a national census. As the Statistician General has affirmed in his presentation, for the first time in the history of this nation, we have deployed technology to generate digital data and excellent sampling frames we can use in the future. With this first-ever digital census, therefore, there have been unprecedented national coverage, accuracy, verifiability, transparency, and professionalism,” he said.

He added that: “Until the next decennial census, this dataset will be used for making governance decisions, policymaking, planning, public service delivery, and various investments in key sectors of our economy. It will also be the basis of future national surveys.”

President Bio also thanked friends and partners, who had generously supported his Government and the people of Sierra Leone, throughout the process, among them former President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Government of the Republic of Kenya, the World Bank, UN Fund for Population Activities, UN Economic Commission for Africa, UN International Children Emergency Fund, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, and sister States of the Mano River Union.

He noted that Statistics Sierra Leone had also received regular guidance and no objections from the World Bank’s technical advisers until the eve of the enumeration, and, therefore, thanked them for their professional input.

“I value the peace and stability of this nation. I led men into battle to safeguard the peace of this nation. I restored democracy and voluntarily handed over power to a democratically-elected Government – all for the sake of peace. I was elected President of this country in peaceful and democratic elections. It is my duty to preserve the peace of this nation. It is my duty to ensure that the future of this nation is well-planned and structured for success. That future must be predicated on verifiable, current, and accurate data,” he reminded.

School of Thought Believes President Bio’s Intervention Could Save Kamarainba

September 19, 2022

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

There is a school of thought which holds the view that President Julius Maada Bio should ensure that the needful is done to save Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray from dying an untimely death.

They argue that he has been in detention for close to three years and even the allegation surrounding his incarceration is still in court.

The argument furthered how he is a senior citizen by virtue of his position as Leader and Chairman of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) and has also contested in two democratic elections for the highest office in the land adding that if President Bio is in office today as President, then Kamarainba played his own part to make the previous APC Government unpopular.

According to that school of thought, just after the 2012 election, Kamarainba was the only opposition leader who was holding the APC led Government of Ernest Bai Koroma accountable maintaining how in his days as National Chairman and Leader of the ADP was like giving the APC Government heavy load to carry as he was the only politician at the time preaching the politics of truth.

They asserted that he had issues with the APC on several occasions, as he was also incarcerated on more than two occasions but he was still there for the people.

Also brought to the fore was that he took his time to go round the country discrediting the APC and was very instrumental in unearthing the ills of the APC, much to the admiration of the public.

Kamarainba is suffering today in prison with a very serious medical health problem. His situation has gone worse to the extent that even his family members are afraid for his life.

Many social commentators and activists say that Kamarainba deserves bail under the laws of Sierra Leone, especially for the simple fact that he is merely a suspect and not a convict.

They reference Section 23 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone which states that: “A man is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.”

The school of thought concluded that in this case, Kamarainba has been going through pain, as his right to bail has been denied by the court, even though a bail has been granted by the Presiding Judge.

It underscored that what makes this case more suspicious is the fact that similar cases of such nature have never been given attention in comparism with the ADP Leader and Chairman’s case.

14 Accused Persons To Appear before Magistrate Hadiru Daboh Today

September 19, 2022

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

At Magistrate Court No 3 on Ross Road in Freetown presided over by Magistrate Hadiru Daboh, the first and second Prosecution Witnesses in the matter between the Inspector General of Police and fourteen (14) accused persons, who were arrested and charged in respect of the August 10 riot, have testified before His Worship Magistrate Hadiru Daboh on the 15th September 2022.

Led in evidence by Detective Sergeant 8534 Gibrilla Sesay representing the Inspector General of Police, the first Prosecution Witness identified himself as Deputy Superintendent of Police, Abubakarr Mohamed Kamara, attached to the Ross Road Police Station as Operations Officer.

He recognized all accused persons in the dock and recalled that he was on duty on Wednesday the 10th of August 2022, in the office when the Commissioner of Police, Francis Hazley called him together with the Local Unit Commander, Denis Taylor and instructed him to form a team of Police Officers.

“I did same involving the Operational Support Team and Personnel from the Operations Unit. I was instructed specifically to visit Ferry Junction where a group of people, holding placards in their hands and others with stones and sticks, were heading towards the Ross Road Police Station,” the Police Witness said.

He continued that they on-boarded a Police vehicle with registration number SLP 056 and moved to the scene, adding that as soon as the accused persons and some others saw the vehicle they ran in different directions.

He went on to explain that, “we ran after the accused persons and we were able to apprehend them.” He added that the others escaped while the accused persons were brought to the Police Station and handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department at the Ross Road Police Station for further investigations.

He went on to state that he was asked to make a statement in respect of the arrest they effected.

Under cross-examination by Lawyer V.A Koroma representing the accused persons, the witness said he has spent 33 years in the Police Force and denied working on shift basis.

He agreed with Lawyer Koroma that before the accused persons were arrested there was a public notice encouraging citizens to go about their normal business.

The second Prosecution Witness, Detective Sergeant Sumaila Ismail Alie said he’s attached to the Regional Criminal Investigation Department at Ross Road Police Station and recognized the accused persons.

He also recalled that he was on duty on the 10th of August 2022, when the accused persons were arrested and brought to the Police Station by the Operations Officer and his team for the offence of Riotous Conduct. He said file was assigned to him for investigation.

Lawyer R. S. Bangura renewed his application for bail on behalf of the accused persons some of whom he said are students and pupils.

Magistrate Daboh refused bail and remanded all accused persons in custody.

The matter comes up today, the 19th September 2022.

NP-SL Ltd in the Spotlight for Solid Contributions to Socio-Economic Development

September 19, 2022

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

NP-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is indeed committed to continue marketing petroleum products in this country despite all the challenges it is confounded with.

Going beyond the normal business spirit, the Shareholders and Management of the company deemed it as a moral obligation to avail individuals access to qualitative petroleum products out of the firm conviction that they are meaningfully contributing towards enhancing, in various ways, standards of living.

This indomitable company has gained massive local as well as international recognition for its meteoric rise and the higher height that it has reached through effective service delivery.

Through its pro-active stance, the company is always ensuring that members of the general public have easy and ready access to qualitative petroleum products of high quality.

Those who have interfaced with the company have confessed that it is amongst the most successful privately owned and operated business entities this country can boast of that have withstand varying external shocks, within and without, but admirably is steadfast in its service delivery.

As a 100% indigenously owned and operated company, NP-SL has over the years, successfully extended its operations country-wide and even beyond to the West African Sub-region in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and The Gambia where it is doing extremely well with regards service delivery, rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility, availing job opportunities, offering new products among a host of other things that it is churning out.

Very mindful that without their cherished customers there will be no NP-SL, the shareholders and Management have made customer care a number one priority which is why the company is synonymous with 1^st For Customer Care. With the conviction that every experience matters, the Management is very receptive to new initiatives, ideas, suggestions and concerns as long as they could help in shaping the policies that the company outlines from time to time that will be translated into tangibles on the ground.

In order to give maximum and optimal satisfaction to customers, NP-SL has always ensured that it operates in tandem with international standards and best practices so that after any service delivery customers get the good feeling that they have derived value for money. The company’s filling stations are state of the art structures having modern calibrated pumping machines that are transparent and accurate in terms of measurement.

Their attendants are well mannered, always courteous and ready to assist both old and new customers whenever they are in doubt of what to do. Most have tire repairing sections, shopping marts and relaxation points where they can spend time doing what they think is right to do. All these facilities are made available to make customers feel at home and be comfortable.

“I always carry my NP Smart Card with me just in case my car’s fuel gauge will show red and I may not exactly have the required amount of money to refill or even if I have it such could be for another purpose. With my card I can just breeze into any NP Filling Station and by using my card the attendant will pump the quantity of petrol I need,” Amadu Bangura, an engineer intimated adding how the card’s security features are unique and could not be easily falsified. “When I first heard of ‘Your fuel on Smart Card’ I thought it was a joke but only realized its efficacy when I started making use of it,” he furthered saying he is really finding it very convenient in doing so and as such prevent him from withdrawing big cash from his bank account for purchasing fuel adding how it as well help in also saving him time.

NP Gas is now the talk of the day as numerous individuals are everyday coming to the realization that it is very suitable for cooking purposes without posing any serious health risks. Manufactured in different cylinder sizes NP Gas is marketed at all the company’s filling stations and by authorized dealers going at affordable prices. Advantageously, NP Gas can be refilled with gas that the company imports and markets making them simple for customers to continue their use.

With regards rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility, NP-SL Ltd is rated high as it has been contributing effectively in improving lives and communities. The company has been making meaningful interventions, meaningfully supporting entities , like it did lately to the National Fire Force by facilitating the construction of a water facility at the Force’s Kissy Branch, in order to capacitate it with water supply to respond to any fire emergency in that part of the country and in other areas within Greater Freetown.

These interventions, worth millions of Leones, are ways by which the company is magnanimously giving back to society. Lives have indeed changed for the better as a result of NP’s interventions.

Utilizing local skills and talents has been topmost in the agenda of discussions relating to national development. The argument for embracing the Local Content Policy borders around enhancing entrepreneurship, comparatively making use of less financial resources to pay for accomplished tasks and creating job opportunities thereby reducing poverty.

NP-SL has made it an established policy to give priority, in terms of employment, to Sierra Leoneans as long as they are in positions or competent to perform. The same is replicated everywhere the company is operating. Such an acclaimed stance is contributing greatly towards poverty reduction and improving lives.

From all indications it is very apparent that the premier oil marketing company, NP-SL-Ltd, is doggedly poised to continue to improve on its business strategies and step up interface with relevant stakeholders with the avowed aim of continuing to diligently and selflessly serve the people of this country and indeed it is walking the talking, doing exemplary well to foster meaningful socio-economic development.