By Amin Kef Sesay
In order to achieve their commitment in making their products and services accessible to all, the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited has on Sunday 27th December, 2020 commissioned an Ultra-Modern Filling Station in Masiaka. The event took place at Bekeh Curve, Port Loko Road, Masiaka in the Koya Chiefdom.
The aforementioned Filling Station is situated at Bekeh Curve, Port Loko Road Masiaka Koya Chiefdom named after the owner Haja Mariama Kamara whose name was given to the new Filling Station (Mariama Petroleum SL LTD).
In her address, the Proprietress/General Manager of Mariama Petroleum SL LTD, Haja Mariama Kamara (Mrs) 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 becomes a success.
Haja Mariama Kamara also extended gratitude to the community stakeholders of Masiaka for their support since the start of the project and to its accomplishment stating that she is gratified that they stood by her also adding that she started the journey 10 years ago furthering that they went through a lot of ups and downs but disclosed 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.
She revealed that after working with the United Nations for several years she decided to return back home in order to give back to society maintaining that with the commissioning of the filling station in Masiaka such will help to ease fuel shortage in that part of the country.
The Proprietress added that ,at present, it has created job opportunities for residents of Masiaka and beyond noting that this filling station will also address the problem of fuel crisis in Masiaka, furthering that there had been constraints in securing fuel especially in times of crisis and that with the commissioning of this filling station in Masiaka such will reduce those constraints.
The Proprietress called on residents of Masiaka to take ownership of the filling station pointing out that it will not only benefit her family members but also majority of the residents of Masiaka and beyond.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, (NP SL-Ltd), Kobi Walker, assured residents of Masiaka that with this new NP-SL fuel station the issue of fuel shortage will be a thing of the past.
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, Gas and lubricants of which the most widely used is Castrol meant for utilization by its numerous and esteemed customers in different parts of the country.
Kobi Walker disclosed that the company has been complementing the efforts of Government through the payment of company’s taxes to the Government of Sierra Leone saying that it shows that with the empowerment that the company is getting from Sierra Leoneans through the purchase of their products they are also 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 Mariama Petroleum SL LTD 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 Masiaka such will not only make fuel available for them at all times but has also provided jobs for some residents as well. He thanked Haja Mariama K. Kamara (Mrs) for believing in the mission and vision of NP-SL which, he said, prompted them to partner with her.
Kobi Walker also informed the gathering that Mariama Petroleum SL LTD will not only sell fuel but all NP-SL products like NP-SL Gas, NP Smart, NP-SL Castrol Oil etc. and also encouraged all to see NP-SL as their own as NP-SL is owned by Sierra Leoneans.
ASP F. F Tengbeh of the Sierra Leone Police Force expressed appreciation to the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, (NP-SL Ltd) for the construction of the newly filling station in Masiaka adding that this has changed the face of Masiaka noting that such an investment is not only important but timely for the people of Masiaka.
He stated that since the construction of the filling station they have been giving proper security in order to ensure that everything is intact and working according to 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.
ASP F. F Tengbeh assured all of their security presence in order to protect life and properties as it is their mandate as a Force for Good.
He said that there have been undesirable issues relating to the accessibility of fuel in Masiaka especially in times of crisis but said he is with the strong belief that with this new fuel station those will be things of the past. He further thanked the Proprietress, Haja Mariama K. Kamara (Mrs) and her family for rolling out the brilliant initiative in bringing development to the town.
Osman Conteh, a bike Rider of Masiaka expressed appreciation to Haja Mariama K. Kamara (Mrs) and NP-SL for the commissioning of the filling station in Masiaka, noting that as` bike riders they have been faced with a lot of constraints in securing fuel furthering that they had to go to nearby villages to secure fuel but said with this new NP-SL filling station in the Masiaka community it will surely address those fuel constraints in Masiaka.
The event was climaxed by the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by the cutting of tape by the Proprietress/General Manager, Mariama Petroleum SL LTD, Mariama K. Kamara (Mrs), Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, (NP SL-Ltd), Kobi Walker, and a representative from the community.
