By Politico Staff writer
The Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) has in a press release highlighted plans to arrest people involved in illegal petroleum trading in Freetown.
The PRA has frowned at the act that it says has been carried out at unauthorized public places.
There Agency has indicated it will be carrying out a joint patrol with the Sierra Leone Police to curb what it said are ‘unscrupulous activities’, specifically in Freetown urban.
The release by the PRA, identified Kingharman Road via Hill Cot Junction, Wilkinson Road via Cole Farm Junction, Berry Street via Hill side Bypass Road, Dwarzack Junction, Dundas Street and Passonage Street via Shell New Road as ‘notorious places’ teeming with these illegal dealers who reportedly use these locations to carry out their trade.
The PRA further admonished individuals involved in this activity to desist from it. The Agency also warned oil operators not to aid or abet the illegal activity as plans are underway to crackdown on defaulters.
Abubakarr Sesay is a commercial biker who welcomed the move by the Agency to crackdown on the illegal activity. “I used to buy fuel from such people because most times there is no nearby fuel station and I am in dire need of fuel for my bike,” he said.
Illegal dealers in fuel products normally add one thousand Leones to the official price, according to Alimamy Conteh also a commercial biker.
The PRA, while presenting its case in tandem with the petroleum laws in Sierra Leone, has also observed that children too are involved in such activities which in its entirety worrisome.
A litre of either petrol or diesel officially now costs 9,500 Leones, following an increase of 1,000 Leones recently.
Copyright © Politico Online
