By Amin Kef Sesay
In order to translate their commitment in making their products and services accessible to all, the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL) has on Saturday 6th March, 2021 commissioned an Ultra-Modern Filling Station in the Southern Regional Town of Gondama, Bo District, Tinkonko Chiefdom.
The above-mentioned Filling Station is named after the owner, Linda Karim whose coined name was given to the new Filling Station (Kalinda Gas Station).
In her address, the Proprietress/General Manager of Kalinda Gas Station, Linda Karim ,expressed appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer, Kobi Walker and the entire Management of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited for their tireless support in ensuring that the establishment of the filling station became a success story disclosing that after the death of her husband there were a lot of challenges to be surmounted revealing that after an audit was done there was a great loss but said with the support of NP-SL she was motivated not to give up.
The Proprietress added that at present the new Filling Station has created job opportunities for residents of Gondama and beyond noting that it will also address the problem of fuel crisis in Gondama. She furthered that there had been constraints in securing fuel especially in times of crisis and that with the commissioning of the filling station in Gondama such will become a thing of the past.
Kalinda also extended gratitude to the community stakeholders of Gondama for their support since the commencement of the project a stating that she is gratified that they stood by her especially after the death of her husband.
She added that she is very pleased that after all those challenges she has finally overcome them continuing that the commissioning of the filling station shows that commitment and determination pay.
Delivering a statement, the Chief Executive Officer of NP Sierra Leone, Kobi Walker expressed excitement for the organic growth of NP-SL. He assured Sierra Leoneans of greater services and easy access to petroleum products.
Kobi Walker assured residents of Gondama that with this new NP-SL fuel station the issue of fuel shortage will no longer transpire.
He maintained that NP-SL remains firm in optimizing customer care disclosing how they are doing exceptionally well in the importation and marketing of petroleum products, including petrol, diesel etc.
Kobi Walker encouraged all to do business with NP-SL as the empowerment that the company is getting from Sierra Leoneans through the purchase of their products is what they are giving back to society through job creation, payment of taxes to the Government and also empowering other Sierra Leoneans of which he said the commissioning of the Kalinda Gas Station is a clear manifestation that NP-SL cares for every Sierra Leonean regardless of status, region, sex etc.
The CEO said with this new filling station in Gondama such will not only make fuel available for them at all times but has also provided jobs for some residents as well and also encouraged all to see NP-SL as their own as NP-SL is owned by Sierra Leoneans.
In his statement, Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency, Brima Baluwa Koroma, applauded NP Sierra Leone for the commissioning of another NP-SL Gas station in the Southern Regional town of Gondama, Bo District, Tinkonko Chiefdom.
He said there have been lots of challenges faced by residents in securing fuel revealing how he himself hails from Tinkonko Chiefdom. The Executive Chairman encouraged NPSL to continue the good work in terms of efficient national service delivery by extending its operations in other deprived areas in Sierra Leone.
He reassured the Oil Marketing Companies of Government’s commitment to create the enabling environment for the private sector to strive.
The Paramount Chiefdom of Tinkonko Chiefdom Hon. PC Professor Joe Kangbai Macavoray III also expressed gratitude to shareholders and Management of NP-SL for the commissioning of Kalinda Gas Station in his chiefdom.
He revealed that the new NP intervention, in expanding its geographic footprint, will serve over 200,000 Sierra Leoneans and about 6 Chiefdoms in Bo and Pujehun Districts.
Osman Moriba, a bike Rider of Gondama expressed appreciation to Kalinda and NP-SL for the commissioning of the filling station in Gondama, noting that as bike riders they have been faced with a lot of constraints in securing fuel furthering that they had to go to Bo to secure fuel but said with this new NP-SL filling station in the Gondama it will surely address those fuel constraints in Gondama and its environs.
The event was climaxed by a dedication which was done by Religious Leaders followed by the cutting of the tape by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, (NP SL-Ltd), Kobi Walker, Executive Chairman Petroleum Regulatory Agency Brima Baluwa Koroma and a representative from the community.`
