By Amin Kef Sesay
It could not be certain why the founding fathers of the National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) decided to locate the head office of the company close to the country’s historic Cotton Tree in Freetown. What is however certain, over the years, is that the company has grown so strong into becoming a ‘Cotton Tree’ in its own right, to such an extent that it now has branches in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia.
There is no way somebody can talk of petroleum marketing in this country and in the West African sub-region without mentioning the National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Ltd (NP-SL Ltd).
All the NP branches within the West African sub-region are well structured and vibrantly functioning with regards the marketing of petroleum products. They are operating along the same wave lengths like the parent body here in Sierra Leone.
What probably may come to the minds of some people when they hear or read “NP-Sierra Leone” is that the company is a completely Government owned entity. However, this is not the case but rather the contrary as the company is a 100% privately owned business establishment that was founded years back by 35 Sierra Leoneans who through sheer determination, injection of fine initiatives and selflessness worked so diligently to an extent that the company has now become a towering business entity not only in the country but even within the West African sub-region. By every estimation or stretch of the imagination, it is indisputable that NP-SL Ltd is indeed a force to reckon with when it comes to petroleum marketing in the country and in the sub-region.
One main underlying factor behind the growth of what was hitherto a small business enterprise could be largely attributed to the company’s positive approach to Customer Care. The Shareholders of the company were so business savvy to an extent that they deemed it quite important to put premium on satisfying the petroleum needs of its numerous customers in different parts of the country.
It was against this backdrop that they decided to be importing qualitative petroleum products which include petrol, diesel, gas and lubricants, one of which is the popular Castrol Oil, all said to be very good for the efficient performance of vehicles, generators, motor bikes, Kekehs. As people always go in for things or products that are good this stance on the part of the Shareholders was one that made the company very endearing to many.
“I have never heard of any given situation where it has been complained that NP-SL sold ‘bad fuel’ that caused the malfunctioning of vehicles or engines unlike what we have heard of happening in other places and for this singular reason I have huge respect for the company,” Sorie Lamina, a crane driver intimated this medium making reference to days long gone by.
“Indeed I am very pleased with the way the calibrated pumping machine is working at the various Filling Stations as it is fully automated ,displaying prices as well as the quantity of fuel that is pumped. You see for yourself, it is very transparent and makes you feel satisfied that you are being treated fairly,” Mohamed Jalloh, an international businessman expressed satisfaction.
Still in the realm of giving their customers the best, in terms of qualitative service delivery in a timely manner, the company decided to secure good tanker vehicles of varying sizes that regularly transport petroleum products to provincial towns. These vehicles are being serviced from time to time in order to ensure their road worthiness. It was understood that petroleum products are always transported in record time to different parts of the country so that there will be no iota of shortage as long as fuel is available.
Another outstanding feature of the company that sharply came to the fore, during this medium’s research, was that it has a laid down policy that when it comes to the offering of jobs then, as an indigenous company, preference must be given to indigenes as against bringing in expatriates from other countries. Even in situations where foreign expatriates are brought in there must be Sierra Leoneans to understudy them and after time the indigenes must take over.
This stance on the part of the company is in sync with the country’s Local Content Policy which is deemed as a sine qua non for economic development to transpire. When this policy is translated into tangibles it is realized that it has helped in reducing the unemployment rate by whatever margin that could be measured. And as jobs are offered to those who are really qualified but were hitherto jobless then such a policy is largely contributing to the reduction of the rate of poverty in the country.
“I do pay high respect to the Shareholders and Management of NP-SL for doggedly sticking to and implementing the policy as it is in line with not only best practice but has demonstrated that the private sector plays a pivotal role in job creation,” Mohamed Njai an Economist intimated us.
With regards the company’s rolling out of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), NP-SL Ltd, has been doing so over the years through giving various supports to worthy causes. Just recently, out of consideration to complement Government’s efforts in scaling up the fight against the deadly coronavirus, NP-SL donated the whopping sum of one billion Leones to the COVID-19 Response Centre as its own token of contribution to beef up the arsenal geared towards fighting and defeating the new enemy.
The company has also given institutional supports to certain sectors, especially those that are closely aligned to it like the National Fire Force. Knowing that it deals in highly inflammable products the company has been very supportive to this important institution. It is against such a backdrop that NP-SL decided to facilitate the construction of a state of the art borehole water facility having a kva generator, as a component, to pump up the water, for the Kissy Branch of the National Fire Force since the terminal where fuel is discharged is close to that branch. As a matter of fact it was not the first support that the company has rendered to that institution and when cognisance is taken of how it is most times difficult to access water in that part of the country, then it will be seen that it was indeed a big blessing.
NP Smart Card is now in vogue and has become trending. It was introduced by the company at the right time as countries globally are shifting away from cash transactions to cashless ways of transacting businesses that creates room for the convenience and security of customers. Banks are doing it and there are other online ways of doing shopping. With the NP Smart Card, monies could be credited into the card and used to buy fuel of any quantity that is within the region of what the card contains. All could be used or some with a balance remaining. But what is so far advantageous with making use of it is that it gives customers the opportunity to budget or say save in the card certain amount of money that has been designated to purchase fuel.
Introducing NP Gas brought relief to many who hitherto had to depend on the use of wood or charcoal that come with certain inconveniences one which smoke affecting the eyes. It is quick, with high performance precision and can be easily refilled with gas that could be secured from the company’s Filling Stations. Manufactured in different cylinder sizes, many are indeed going for it and have spoken glowingly about its good performance.
NP-SL Ltd is indeed a ‘Cotton Tree’ with branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. Though old it is still poised to produce more branches.
