Parents in tears as… FUEL SHORTAGE HEATS KABALA
Residents of Kabala in the Koinadugu District North of Sierra Leone are currently facing the worst fuel crisis in their lives despite the huge quantum of fuel in the country.
Investigation carried out by SALONE TIMES indicates that the usual consignment of fuel usually assigned to that region to serve that populace did not usually reach them directly.
SALONE TIMES learnt that whenever the allocated supply reaches that community the two fuel stations in that community - National Petroleum (N.P.) and Safecon at Makeni road in Kabala divide the fuel. Part of the supplied will go to the fuel stations while the other half be sold at black-market rate to the Gold Mining companies and other big buyers.
At Safecon we discovered dozens of five gallons loaded with fuel waiting for buyers who will pay extra. At black the markets, the fuel is sold at six thousand Leone’s (Le 6000) per liter while the official price is four thousand five hundred Leone’s (Le 4,500) some dealers at the black- market even refuse to sell in liters but per gallon.
As the situation gets unbearable every day most of the parents cannot stand the test of time in that community but to go in search of black-markets fuel as some of them sustain their families through power supply.
“We are the least considered community in this country. We are in a total blackout. How can we use our Kabba Tiger generator when we are facing such embarrassment?” asked Musu B. Koroma a mother of six in that community.
She went on to say that what baffles her most is that they will see the consignment but in a twinkle of an eye they will be informed that the fuel has run out when one goes to buy at the station. She went on to say that in most cases they come all the way from Makeni City in the north of that country to buy fuel. “We are suffering in the hands of these dealers. We want to see an end to this ugly situation,” she said.
Some blame the lack of adequate fuel stations in that community as two fuel station with substandard facilities cause a lot of problem for them. According to them the fuel dealers are used to the traditional system other than than modern system.
“This situation is making things very hard for some of us in this community,” Madam Koroma said while calling for an urgent action to be taken by the authorities in resolving this crisis once and for all.
This situation has not only affected residents of Kabala but tourists as well “I was Shocked to realize that there is no fuel at the fuel station because when we came we saw the truck offloading the consignment in less than a day we learnt that the fuel has run out,” said David Quest a tourist from United Kingdom.
From all indications Kabala is one of Sierra Leone's tourist potential areas but currently one the least developed area in the country. Its people are very hospitable and kind..
The National Petroleum (N.P) when contacted disassociated itself from the black- Market situation and described it as a criminal offence. According to them they will put modalities in place to ensure that the fuel reaches the station and serves the populace at the official price.
Already the Sierra Leone Police in that community have issued a press statement that they will effect arrest on anyone caught selling fuel outside the petrol stations. The statement went on to describe such situations as endangering the lives and properties of residents as their mandate is to protect lives and property.
The statement by the police has been welcomed by all but their fears is how effective the police is in carrying out such functions when they have been branded as the most corrupt institution in the country by the Anti Corruption Commission.
Investigation carried out by SALONE TIMES indicates that the usual consignment of fuel usually assigned to that region to serve that populace did not usually reach them directly.
SALONE TIMES learnt that whenever the allocated supply reaches that community the two fuel stations in that community - National Petroleum (N.P.) and Safecon at Makeni road in Kabala divide the fuel. Part of the supplied will go to the fuel stations while the other half be sold at black-market rate to the Gold Mining companies and other big buyers.
At Safecon we discovered dozens of five gallons loaded with fuel waiting for buyers who will pay extra. At black the markets, the fuel is sold at six thousand Leone’s (Le 6000) per liter while the official price is four thousand five hundred Leone’s (Le 4,500) some dealers at the black- market even refuse to sell in liters but per gallon.
As the situation gets unbearable every day most of the parents cannot stand the test of time in that community but to go in search of black-markets fuel as some of them sustain their families through power supply.
“We are the least considered community in this country. We are in a total blackout. How can we use our Kabba Tiger generator when we are facing such embarrassment?” asked Musu B. Koroma a mother of six in that community.
She went on to say that what baffles her most is that they will see the consignment but in a twinkle of an eye they will be informed that the fuel has run out when one goes to buy at the station. She went on to say that in most cases they come all the way from Makeni City in the north of that country to buy fuel. “We are suffering in the hands of these dealers. We want to see an end to this ugly situation,” she said.
Some blame the lack of adequate fuel stations in that community as two fuel station with substandard facilities cause a lot of problem for them. According to them the fuel dealers are used to the traditional system other than than modern system.
“This situation is making things very hard for some of us in this community,” Madam Koroma said while calling for an urgent action to be taken by the authorities in resolving this crisis once and for all.
This situation has not only affected residents of Kabala but tourists as well “I was Shocked to realize that there is no fuel at the fuel station because when we came we saw the truck offloading the consignment in less than a day we learnt that the fuel has run out,” said David Quest a tourist from United Kingdom.
From all indications Kabala is one of Sierra Leone's tourist potential areas but currently one the least developed area in the country. Its people are very hospitable and kind..
The National Petroleum (N.P) when contacted disassociated itself from the black- Market situation and described it as a criminal offence. According to them they will put modalities in place to ensure that the fuel reaches the station and serves the populace at the official price.
Already the Sierra Leone Police in that community have issued a press statement that they will effect arrest on anyone caught selling fuel outside the petrol stations. The statement went on to describe such situations as endangering the lives and properties of residents as their mandate is to protect lives and property.
The statement by the police has been welcomed by all but their fears is how effective the police is in carrying out such functions when they have been branded as the most corrupt institution in the country by the Anti Corruption Commission.
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