By Foday Moriba Conteh
NP Sierra Leone (SL), on Saturday, January 11, 2025, underscored its commitment to facilitating easy access to petroleum products by inaugurating a state-of-the-art Filling Station on Kadigidigi Road in Kamakwie, the district headquarters of Karene District in Sierra Leone’s Northern Province. This expansion is in line with NP (SL)’s strategic objective to improve the availability of its imported and marketed products.
The newly opened Filling Station is strategically located to serve the fuel needs of Kamakwie and its surrounding villages. This development is expected to alleviate the long-standing fuel shortages that have affected the region for years.
In his welcome address, Regent Chief, Pa Alimami Camira Malay-Conteh expressed his dedication to fostering a strong relationship between NP (SL) and the local community. “When this project began, I did not anticipate remaining the Regent Chief until its completion. However, I was confident that it would be a significant development to address Kamakwie’s fuel crisis. As Regent Chief, I will ensure a solid understanding between NP (SL) and our people,” he assured.
Steven S. Lewis, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at the Karene District Council, described the Filling Station as a landmark development. He noted that the facility would not only ease the movement of goods and people but also significantly reduce the fuel crisis in Kamakwie and neighboring areas. He highlighted the station’s potential to create job opportunities and reduce the challenges of securing fuel, particularly during crises.
Aminata Dumbuya, District Monitoring Officer at the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), thanked NP (SL) for its investment, reaffirming the PRA’s commitment to compliance and maintaining strong partnerships with oil marketing companies.
Speaking on behalf of NP (SL) CEO, Ing. Vandy Bockarie, the Sales Manager commended local authorities for their support in the successful completion of the Filling Station. He emphasized the critical role of fuel in a country’s economy, noting, “Fuel is the lifeblood of any economy. Its shortage hampers electricity, transportation and general movement.” He assured residents that the new ultramodern Filling Station would resolve the long-term fuel crisis in Kamakwie and its environs.
The Sales Manager conveyed the CEO’s message that the chronic fuel shortages in Kamakwie had now ended, marking the construction of the ultramodern Filling Station as a unique and transformative initiative. He further assured residents of fair dealings, emphasizing that customer satisfaction and respect are paramount for NP (SL)’s success.
Alusine Kamara, Chairman of the Karene District Bike Riders’ Union, expressed his satisfaction with the development, noting that it would curb black-market fuel transactions during shortages. He urged gas station attendants to maintain professionalism and avoid favoritism, particularly during challenging times for bike riders and the general public.
Alhassan Fofanah, Chairman of the Karene District Drivers’ Union, also expressed his appreciation to NP (SL) for establishing the Filling Station in Kamakwie. He noted that drivers had previously faced significant difficulties in securing fuel, often queuing for long periods. The new facility, he said, would greatly alleviate those challenges and improve fuel availability in the region.
The inauguration of the new Filling Station marks a pivotal moment for Kamakwie, highlighting NP (SL)’s dedication to bolstering the petroleum sector and fostering socio-economic progress across Sierra Leone.
