Skip to main content

Mixed reactions as petrol scarcity ushers in new pump price

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson
While most Sierra Leoneans were busy sending via social media new month wishes to their relatives, friends and other loved ones earlier on Tuesday, August 1 gas station owners in Makeni and beyond had abruptly halted sales of petrol claiming shortage of the product due to expected increase in price.
Behold the gas station owners’ speculation for an increase in the pump price which saw many residents of the cities nationwide especially in Makeni where other travelers form Kabala, Kono and Magburaka were transiting to Lunsar Freetown and Port-Loko had to pay exuberant amounts to access public transportation services to get to their destinations, became evident yesterday evening. Effective August 1, the Petroleum Regulatory Authority (PRA) together with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade & Industry and the Oil Marketing companies agreed to increase the price of all petrol products (Diesel, Fuel, Kerosene and Petrol) from NLe 21.5 to NLe 25 ushering an increase of three Leones, twenty five cents of the petroleum products nationwide. Reason for the increase in the maximum retail pump prices announcement according to PRA is due to the exchange rate of Leones to United States Dollar, and “hike in the international refined petroleum prices.” To some Sierra Leoneans, the price increase of petroleum products is not a surprise because the 2023 supplementary budget presented to parliament on Monday by the Finance Minister’s Sheku Fantamadi Bangura uncovers plans by the Government of Sierra Leone to hands-off subsidizing for fuel. On the other hand, other Sierra Leones after the PRA Tuesday evening joint presser have said on social media that the “increase in petroleum products price will undoubtedly lead to hike in prices of basic commodities such as rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil, building materials and the likes with public transportation costs also poised to be increased nationwide.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Senegal, first African team to beat England, but not first to score three goals

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Claim: Soccer World HQ, in a Facebook post , claimed that Senegal is the first African team to beat England and the first to score three goals against them. Verdict: Partly True! Senegal is the first African team to beat England, but not the first to score three goals against them. Full Text The England senior men’s national football team, nicknamed the “Three Lions,” played their first match against Scotland in 1872. That match ended goalless but marked the beginning of an intense soccer rivalry between both nations, dubbed the “Auld Enemy.” Since 1872-2025, the England national team has achieved its 1000-game milestone in November 2019 when they played Montenegro at the Wembley Stadium. England's all-time head-to-head record shows that they’ve played a whopping 1072 matches against 100 countries, won 615 games, drew 255, and lost 200. Senegal, on the other hand, is one of Africa’s most famous football nations, nicknamed the “Lions of Teranga.” In 2002, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Makeni Medical Mission Brings Hope and Healing to Bombali District

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Residents of the Asker Amputee Camp in Makeni City, including various war victims, are rejoicing over the inauguration of the Makeni Medical Mission health facility, established by philanthropist, author, and pastor Mr. Bambay Sawaneh, alongside his partners in the United States. This newly launched medical facility, comprising 11 treatment rooms, was developed with the support of Southeastern Medical International (SMI) and the Concord Christian Church. Their mission is to deliver compassionate healthcare and a range of medical services to the people of Bombali District and surrounding areas, with a particular focus on war victims and vulnerable families living in the Asker Amputee Camp at Robureh. At the official opening ceremony in Makeni city, a team of 10 medical missionaries from Southeastern Medical International, including Sheila Yates, a seasoned medical missionary with two decades of experience in the US, provided free medical care to 100 individuals,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sierra Leone, Two other Nations disqualified from AFCON 2024 U17 Qualifiers

By: Abdulrahman Barrie The U17 football teams from Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau have been disqualified from the 2024 U17 African Cup of Nations competition in Senegal after failing the mandatory MRI test scans. These scans, which determine the age of the players, revealed discrepancies that led to their removal from the tournament. The disqualification follows changes to Article 27.4 of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations regulations, which have tightened the criteria and enforcement of age verification measures. The updated rules stipulate that if a team has more than four players deemed ineligible after the MRI eligibility test, the entire team will be disqualified. The MRI tests, used to enforce age restrictions in youth competitions, are crucial for ensuring fairness. Unfortunately, the teams from these three nations did not meet the age criteria, resulting in their disqualification. This decision has come as a significant disappointment for the young players and their fans, w...
Post a Comment
Read more