By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a bid to enhance accessibility to petroleum products, NP-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) on Saturday 20th April, 2024 inaugurated a new Filling Station named Abyei Gas Station in Zimmi Makpele Chiefdom, Pujehun District, Southern Sierra Leone. The Filling Station, situated along the Liberia Border highway, aims to address the longstanding challenge of fuel scarcity in that region.
Welcoming the gathering, Bintu M. Jalloh, representing the Paramount Chief of Makpele Chiefdom, expressed gratitude for converging to commission the Filling Station, emphasizing the alleviation of fuel shortages in Zimmi and its environs.
She highlighted the community’s reliance on a single Filling Station over the years, causing inconvenience for residents of which she expressed optimism that this new one they are about to commission will put to an end the constrains they had been facing.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of the Filling Station, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Lahai Sandi Koroma, expressed gratitude to community stakeholders and NP-Sierra Leone for their unwavering support throughout the project’s duration.
He highlighted the commitment of the CEO, who is currently serving with the United Nations Interim Security Force in Sudan, to invest in Sierra Leone by establishing Filling Stations across the country.
Lahai Sandi Koroma noted that the CEO has already completed two Filling Stations, one in Bo Township and another to be commissioned in Zimmi plus one nearing completion in Gendema, scheduled for commissioning later on.
He emphasized that the new Filling Station has provided job opportunities for residents of Zimmi and surrounding areas as well as addressing the longstanding issue of fuel scarcity in the locality.
Lahai Sandi Koroma assured the availability of petroleum products at the Station and also urged residents to take ownership of the facility, emphasizing its benefits not only for his family but also for the majority of residents of Zimmi and beyond.
On his part, Ambassador Kobi Walker, the Chief Executive Officer of NP-Sierra Leone Limited (NP SL-Ltd), assured residents of Zimmi that the new NP-SL Filling Station they are commissioning will effectively address the issue of fuel shortage, making it a thing of the past. He emphasized that the commissioning of the new Filling Station signifies growth and increased sales for the company.
He reiterated that the new outlet will not only ensure the availability of fuel at all times but also provide job opportunities for local residents. He highlighted that this initiative aligns with one of the Government’s key agendas of creating 500,000 jobs for young people in the country.
Furthermore, Amb Kobi Walker emphasized the company’s commitment to empowering local entrepreneurs and contributing to nation-building by facilitating easy access to petroleum products.
He encouraged others to follow the example set by Lahai Sandi Koroma, the CEO of the Filling Station, who despite residing abroad, has demonstrated his love for the country by establishing Fuel Stations in Bo, Zimmi and the nearing completion one in Gendema.
The NP-SL CEO urged residents to take ownership of the new Filling Station by supporting it through patronage.
Officer in Charge of Zimmi Police Station, Inspector Juldeh Jalloh, expressed appreciation to NP-Sierra Leone Limited, (NP-SL Ltd) for the construction of the newly Filling Station in Zimmi adding that this has changed the face of the community further noting that such an investment is not only important but timely for the people of Zimmi and its environs.
He also encouraged members of the public to see the investment as their own and stated that they will also serve watchdogs for NP-SL.
Inspector Jalloh assured all of their security presence in the Filling Station in fulfillment of their mandate as a Force for Good to protect life and properties.
Vandi Mansaray, a bike Rider of Zimmi expressed appreciation to NP-SL for commissioning the Filling Station, noting that as` bike riders they have been faced with a lot of constraints in securing fuel furthering that they had to go to as far as Bo to secure fuel but said with this new NP-SL Filling Station in Zimmi it will surely address those fuel constraints in that part of the country.
The event was climaxed by the official unveiling of the new Filling Station by the Chief Executive Officer of NP-Sierra Leone Limited, (NP SL-Ltd), Kobi Walker, the representative of the Paramount Chief of Makpele Chiefdom, Bintu M. Jalloh and other stakeholders of Zimmi.
