By Foday Moriba Conteh
NP-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) has on Saturday, 10th February, 2024, impressively translated into reality one of its core commitments of making it a possibility for easy access to its petroleum products, that the company imports and markets, through expanding its scope of operations, when the indigenous petroleum marketing business entity inaugurated a new Filling Station in Bunumbu Township, a community that is located within Kailahun District, Eastern Sierra Leone.
Situated in Bunumbu Town, Peje West Chiefdom, the newly established Filling Station is strategically located to serve the petroleum needs of not only residents within Bunumbu but also those in neighboring chiefdoms within the District, including Malema, Mandu and Penguia.
Chief Executive Officer of the NP-Sierra Leone Limited, Ambassador Kobi Walker, in his address during the commissioning event, assured residents of Bunumbu and its environs that the operation of the new NP-SL Fuel Station will definitely put behind them the issue of unavailability of fuel and other petroleum products as such will soon become things of the past in that part of the country.
He mentioned how they were mindful of the constraints that they, as residents, used to face in efforts made to access petroleum products, especially fuel, comprising of petrol and diesel. The CEO empathized with them having to cover long distances going to as far Daru and Kenema and went on to say that such is now over as he assured them of how the new NP-SL Filling Station they are about to commission in Bunumbu will surely address those constraints, a statement that was greeted with joy and a thunderous applause.
Kobi Walker expressed optimism that the new Filling Station will definitely attract other investments in the chiefdom and its surroundings.
He added how the completion of the ongoing construction of Bunumbu Teachers College will attract a lot of people saying such could be one of the main objectives why they believe their presence would make a big difference by making available petroleum products.
According to him, it is imminent that with NP-SL in that part of the country other business ventures will be established soon, some which will be closely linked to the availability of fuel further expressing hope that such will help in bringing back the past glory of Bunumbu when cognizance is taken of how Bunumbu contributed immensely in offering quality education to numerous people.
“NP Sierra Leone has taken a very long journey with the Proprietor of the new Filling Station, Alhaji Amara James, including difficult times culminating finally in making the commissioning of this Filling Station a success. The pumping machines installed here are the most sophisticated in the entire country and very soon NP Sierra Leone will unveil a card system to be used for the purchase of petroleum products and also will be made available to the new Bunumbu Filling Station,” he disclosed, another statement that resonated well with the development aspiration of the residents as they welcomed it as a positive development.
He pointed out how currently the new Filling Station has already created employment opportunities for residents further urging all to patronize the business and take ownership of it in order to enhance sustainability, adding that as the Filling Station continues to grow it will create more job opportunities for residents.
The Officer in Charge of the Sierra Leone Police, Bunumbu, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ansumana Conteh, expressed gratitude to NP-Sierra Leone Limited, (NP-SL Ltd) for the construction and commissioning of the new Filling Station adding that such has changed the face of Bunumbu as he noted how the investment is not only important but its establishment is also timely for the people of Bunumbu.
He encouraged members of the public to see the investment as their own saying in that regard they must be watchdogs for NP-SL stressing how security is everyone’s business.
The Officer in Charge assured of their security presence in order to protect life and properties which, he said, underpins their mandate as a Force for Good.
Chairman of the Bike Riders Union, Bunumbu, Yusuf Alusine Moigua, praised NP-Sierra Leone and partner for commissioning the new Filling Station in Bunumbu highlighting undesirable issues that were related to accessing fuel in Bunumbu and its environs especially in times of crisis lamenting how they had to go to Daru or Kenema just to secure fuel. He said he is strongly convinced that with this new Fuel Station those will be things of the past.
In his vote of thanks, the Proprietor of the new Bunumbu Filling Station, Alhaji Amara James, expressed profound thanks and appreciation to the entire Management of NP Sierra Leone Limited for their tireless support in ensuring the establishment of the Filling Station.
He also extended gratitude to the community stakeholders of Bunumbu for their support since the commencement of the project to its completion, disclosing that they went through a lot of hiccups but said he is satisfied that they were able to overcome the challenges thanking them for their efforts which he said has culminated in the commissioning of the Filling Station and went on to underscore that commitment and determination do yield fruitful dividends.
Alhaji Amara James noted that seeing the constraints that residents went through in securing fuel was what prompted him to invest in the business venture expressing hope that the Filling Station will not only serve residents of Bunumbu Township, Peje West Chiefdom but also others from other chiefdoms within the district including Malema, Mandu and Penguia etc.
Climaxing the historic event was the cutting of the tape by the Chief Executive Officer of the NP-Sierra Leone Limited Kobi Walker and the Sales Manager of NP-Sierra Leone, Vandi Bockarie amidst a lot of jubilation by many from all walks of life that graced the auspicious occasion marking the official opening of the new Filling or Fuel Station to the public.
