By Amin Kef Sesay
The premier petroleum marketing company in the country, the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd), is poised and more determined to give its cherished customers, not only Sierra Leone but in other countries within the West African sub-region where it has a presence, enhanced customer care, quality service delivery as well as high grade petroleum products that it imports, in this New Year, 2021.
This disclosure was made by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, the indefatigable and result oriented, Kobi Walker, who has been very instrumental in taking the business entity to a very high pedestal over the years amidst daunting challenges.
He intimated that the NP-SL Ltd prides itself for its effective customer care platform adding that availing their customers with qualitative products, taking into consideration their needs and creating sync by how they can negotiate on business terms, are things that they take very seriously. “I will say with all amount of certainty that we have mastered that trade which is why our company has bagged the accolade of 1st for Customer Care,” he said with pride stating that without their esteemed customers there will be no NP-SL Ltd. He added that it is their mission to ensure that the vast majority of Sierra Leoneans and other nationals in countries where they operate do have access to qualitative petroleum products.
CEO Kobi Walker highlighted that in 2020 they successfully commissioned Filling Stations in some places where hitherto they did not exist. He noted that they were delighted to have achieved that because such will eliminate the hassle that residents in those places used to go through in trying to access petroleum products. The CEO encouraged well-meaning entrepreneurs who intend to partner with NP-SL Ltd to do so saying their doors are widely open for negotiations.
It was learnt that the company is always on top of situation in terms of timely importation and storage that will last over time in order to avert scarcity. “We do not want to see long queues at Filling Stations and disruption in normal life activities which is why we are doing our best to ensure that there is enough fuel in stock,” he pointed out.
He said the company has state of the art calibrated pumping machines at its various Filling Stations which have the capability to pump the exact amount of fuel that a customer demands displaying the price and quantity at the same time. “We want to keep abreast with latest technology which is why we have those machines installed because they instil confidence in customers that transactions are transparent,” he informed.
He said they recently installed the latest Helix T-Media calibrated pumping machine at its Siaka Stevens filling station. The Helix T-Media calibrated pumping machine, according to him, seemingly works as an advertisement gadget. Its difference with the former calibrated pumping machine is that it has a television screen which displays all the products that NP has for sale. Customers can get full knowledge of what the company has to offer for sale.
Kobi Walker furthered that in order to make the purchase of fuel very convenient they decided to introduce what is known as NP Smart Card. According to him it has gained currency as more and more people are now using it. In as much as a particular customer has credit in his or her NP Smart Card then he or she can use it to purchase fuel within the ambit of the money that is in the card. The Smart Card can be credited from time to time. It was understood that its greatest advantages are that it is secure, prevents customers to access physical cash to purchase fuel and budget properly to purchase fuel intermittently.
The savvy CEO went further to explain that they have one of the best gas cooker known as NP Gas which he said is user friendly as well as not hazardous to the health of users. NP Gas can be refilled with gas that can be secured at any NP Filling Station and there are different cylinder sizes.
Kobi Walker maintained that in order to enhance the country’s Local Content Policy they have, over the years, made it a policy to have in their employ indigenes as opposed to expatriates. He said such a policy has made it possible for the creation of job opportunities for many and invariably help in reducing poverty.
He continued that the company is contributing to national development through the timely payment of taxes which the Government mobilizes to fund various development programmes.
The CEO ended by assuring that in this New Year they are poised to roll out various initiatives just to ensure that their numerous customers have the best in terms of quality petroleum products and enhanced service delivery furthering how they will not rest on their oars or bask in their successes but rather continue to work assiduously in order to give out their best and take NP-SL to another level.
