By Amin Kef Sesay
In order to accomplish its commitment in making their petroleum products and services accessible to every Sierra Leonean across the country, the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited has on Saturday 14th August, 2021 commissioned a new Filling Station on Hangha Road within the Kenema District, Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. The event took place on Hangha Road within the Nongowa Chiefdom.
Welcoming the NP-SL delegation to Kenema, the Deputy Mayor of the Kenema City Council, Esther N. Kaisamba, expressed appreciation to the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited for the commissioning of the new Filling Station.
She underscored that with the commissioning of the said fuel station the issue of fuel crisis or to strenuously access fuel will now become a thing of the past and went on to encourage all to see NP-SL as their own, adding that the support and empowerment that the company is receiving from Sierra Leoneans, through the purchase of their products, will also be positively felt by Sierra Leoneans.
In his statement, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, (NP SL-Ltd), Kobi Walker, noted that NP-SL will continue to remain firm in optimizing customer care delivery stating that such is one of the main reasons why they are commissioning the Filling Station in Kenema in order to ensure easy access to petroleum products by residents of that district.
He stated that NP-SL is doing exceptionally well with regards the importation and marketing of petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, Gas and lubricants of which the most widely used is the highly regarded Castrol Oil that has been widely accepted for the proper functioning of the engines of vehicles and other engines.
The CEO assured residents of Nongowa Chiefdom, within the Kenema District, that with the opening of the new filling station in Kenema such will not only make fuel available for them at all times but also provide jobs for some as well.
He thanked Hassan Sow for believing in the mission and vision of NP-SL which, he said, prompted them, as a company, to partner with him to commission the new Filling Station.
One of the Directors of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), Victor Sawyer, also commended NP-SL, on behalf of the Management of PRA, for their continuous strides in making their presence felt across the country. He revealed that NP-SL is the biggest oil marketing company in the country and their optimization of customer satisfaction is exceptional.
He encouraged NP-SL to continue the good work in terms of efficient national service delivery by extending its operations to other deprived areas in Sierra Leone.
In his address, the Proprietor of the new Filling Station on Hangha Road within the Kenema District, Hassan Sow, expressed appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer of NP-SL Ltd, 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 becomes a reality and success.
He added that, at present, it has created job opportunities for residents of Kenema and beyond noting that the new Filling Station will also address the issue of fuel crisis revealing how there had been constraints in securing fuel especially during certain crucial moments stating how with the commissioning of the filling station in the District such will reduce those constraints.
The Proprietor called on residents to take ownership of the Filling Station as majority of the residents of Kenema and beyond stand the chance to benefit.
ASP Bilkisu Kamara of the Sierra Leone Police Force expressed appreciation to the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, (NP-SL Ltd) for contributing in the construction of the new Filling Station in Kenema adding that this has changed the face of Kenema noting that such an investment is not only important but timely for residents of the district.
He stated that since the commencement of the construction of the Filling Station they have been providing tight security in order to ensure that everything was intact and the work goes according to stipulated or acceptable procedures and processes. He also encouraged members of the public to see the investment as their own and stated that in that regard they are watchdogs for NP-SL.
Musa Moriba, a bike Rider of Kenema praised the Proprietor of the new Filling Station, Hassan Sow and NP-SL for the commissioning noting that as bike riders they had been facing certain constraints to secure fuel especially in moments of crisis but said with this new NP-SL Filling Station in the Kenema district such will surely address those fuel constraints.
The event was climaxed by the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by the cutting of the tape by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, (NP SL-Ltd), Kobi Walker, the father of the Proprietor of the new Filling Station, Alhaji Sow, marking the formal opening of the new Filling Station.
