By Nasratu Kargbo and Prince J. Musa in Kenema
Drivers, car owners and passengers have expressed fear over what seems to be a fuel shortage in the last few days in across Sierra Leone. Many have reported that they observed signs of fuel scarcity since New Year’s Eve; this has caused black marketeering and led to increase in transportation fares.
Salifu Kanu a car owner explained to Politico that on his way from work on New Year’s Eve, he observed that many cars were queued at different gas stations waiting for fuel. “I saw long queues during odd hours of 1am. I actually wondered why would cars queue up in fuel station at such hour, but I just ignored thinking they might be those who were out to merry during the holiday”.
According to Kanu, he only realized there was a problem the next day. He explained that he had to leave his car in Freetown to travel to the village. “When I got to Kambia, I had to pay more than the usual transport fare. During normal times, we paid something like Le 100, 000 on motorbike from Kambia to Kamasasa, but on that day I was asked to pay Le 250,000”.
In an interview with Politico, Mohamed Swaray-Kamara a tricycle also known as Keke rider said he first noticed petrol scarcity on Sunday 3rd January 2022, and could not access fuel throughout Lumley. “All the stations were closed” he said. He had to go to the East End of Freetown to purchase fuel, double the normal price. “I bought one liter for twenty thousand Leones from black market” he claimed. Swaray-Kamara said according to rumors “the price of fuel might be increased’’.
When asked whether there is an increase in transport fare, a taxi passenger Mariama Kamara explained “for me, transportation is the same, fuel shortage or not drivers ask for more especially during holidays”. Kamara said the government should look into the issue of transportation.
Politico visited some gas stations and observed that some were not in operation; however they could not give reasons as to why they were not operating. Speaking to a receptionist at one of the NP stations selling fuel, she clearly stated that their gas station has not experienced any shortage and that they were operating as usual.
The same crisis was also visible in other places in the country. Mustapha Mansaray, a bike rider in Kenema said, he doubts there is fuel in the market because it is not visible at gas stations. This he said has given leeway to black marketers to sell at exorbitant prices which range from eighteen, twenty-five, and thirty to thirty-five thousand Leones per liter.
Ibrahim Feika another commercial cyclist in Kenema said, they are left with no option but to increase the transportation fares since they are doing business and have to report at the end to those who gave them the motorcycles.
Politico could not get the Petroleum Regulatory Agency to comment on the current situation.
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