By Amin Kef Sesay
Some sections of the citizenry are of the opinion that there is the need as a nation to encourage trade and economic competition as long as such could be hugely beneficial to overall national development. Although some have been criticizing President Julius Maada Bio for his frequent overseas travelling, however, a cursory look at the rationale behind such moves bordering around wooing foreign investors into the country, has provided justification for him to have embarked on them and continue to do so in the best interest of the country.
With having genuine investors, who are ready and willing to pour their resources into different areas in the economy, there will emerge job opportunities, Government will derive revenue from the imposition of taxes, socio-economic development will transpire through the rolling out of Corporate Social Responsibilities etc. The more options availed individuals to choose from results into greater efficiency and offering of qualitative products that adds value for money.
It is against such a backdrop, that this medium, through its findings, has maintained that the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is not in any way averse to any form of competition as some may think.
The show of interest by the All Petroleum Products (APP) Company, with the principal partner being a Nigerian, to invest in the country by constructing the largest petroleum storage tank is indeed a welcoming idea with lots of benefits attached to it. This form of investment will be good and fine for the country.
What later turned out to be an impasse between NP-SL and APP which some are finding difficult to understand is the forceful way and manner in which the APP wanted to execute their work which, it was understood, was in total contravention of a prior agreement they had with NP-SL Ltd. The agreement bordered on an understanding that APP should pass its pipes within certain portion of NP-SL’s concession area but lamentably, APP renege on that condition and decided to do otherwise which eventually resulted into an impasse between the two parties.
From day one when the misunderstanding started it was expected that the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) in collaboration with other stakeholders would have arbitrated the matter and allow life to go on unabated.
However, that was not the case as already the situation had been allegedly compromised by certain public officials hailing APP and deriding NP-SL Ltd by creating the impression that the latter is afraid of competition. It was like adding fuel to an existing fire thereby aggravating a very tense situation.
The intervention of the Honourable Vice President, Dr. Juldeh Jalloh on the 24th August 2021 when he paid a visit at the troubled site, the Kissy Terminal, to do an inspection was indeed very timely, diplomatic to say the least. He acted in a fatherly way by telling both parties to the impasse that all of them are equally important and should work in harmony in the best interest of the country.
The Vice President told all the parties to take advantage of the support the Government of Sierra Leone is providing to oil marketing companies and encouraged them to work together to ensure stability in the supply and prices of oil products.
He intimated about Government’s tax reduction effort to ensure the price stability of petroleum products in Sierra Leone, adding that Sierra Leone has one of the cheapest prices of petroleum products in the sub-region.
Vice President Jalloh stated that the operation of new companies like the All Petroleum Products (APP) will enable government to expand strategic resources. “The more companies, the more storage facility, the more keeping of petroleum products to cushion the country from external shock, in case there is rise in price at the international market,” the Honourable Vice President reiterated.
Vice President Jalloh opined on the relevance of the petroleum sector, stressing that government is cognizant of the critical nature of the sector to the economy of Sierra Leone. Dr. Jalloh emphasized about the creation of jobs and contribution to revenue generation by the petroleum sector.
He disclosed how President Bio takes the petroleum sector seriously, adding that the Government will continue to provide support to the petroleum sector.
The Honourable Vice President encouraged the petroleum companies to work together as one and benefit from the support the Government of Sierra Leone is providing to the sector and further encouraged them for a cordial working relationship among them, so as to enable the companies to provide an effective and stable supply of petroleum products with competitive prices for consumers.
After addressing the parties, the Vice President then inspected facilities of the National Petroleum (NP) Sierra Leone, and the All Petroleum Products.
The Vice President told them to look at the grey areas, go to the drawing board and re-emerge with a consensus to forge ahead in the interest of overall national development. It is expected that with the intervention of the VP such will bring to an end the impasse and at the end of the day there will be a positive outcome for the good of the country.
It is the candid view of a Political Commentator that if some of the President’s appointees are not equal to simple tasks they are mandated to execute then it means they are not fit for the purposes why they were in the first place appointed.
Government must be mindful of its responsibility bordering on enhancing economic development. In doing so it must treat each player with respect and dignity. NP-SL Ltd has been offering over forty years of unblemished service delivery and is a key player within the petroleum landscape through its importation and marketing of high grade petroleum products .It has contributed in so many ways to the socio-economic development of the nation and still continues to do so.
Besides, it is a 100% indigenous company which should not be treated with scorn in the face of a new player as the company deserves better treatment than to be portrayed as a bulwark standing in the way of development.
It is high time for President Bio to take note of some of those around him because from the look of things it appears that some of them are more interested in lining their pockets instead of thinking nationalistically.
Let the jaw, jaw take place with progress seen materializing than the war, war. May Common Sense Prevail!
