The Minister of Information and Communication, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, has said on SLBC morning coffee programme on Tuesday that Government is very concerned about the recurrent fuel shortage in the country.
He noted that even though President Julius Maada Bio is out of the country, he is monitoring the situation every day.
The minister said that Government does not sell fuel but it provides the enabling environment to ensure that fuel is in the country and put regulations which dealers should follow.
Mr Swaray stated that he returned recently from Upcountry and he saw many queues at fuel stations.
He maintained that government has not been sitting by and watching what is happening, noting that they have made many interventions to ensure that the people don’t suffer.
“It is not today [that] we have started showing concerns. To an extent, government has been giving alot of resources to ensure we cushion [the effect of] this problem, so that our people do not feel the pains of these challenges,” the minister stated.
Mohamed Rahman Swaray further stated that during the outbreak of COVID-19, OPEC (the petroleum producing nations) had cut down on fuel production by Ten Million barrels a day, because movements were restricted across the Globe. He noted that now that COVID-19 is not of high risk as before, the organization has not been able to get the normal production in place.
The Minister furthered that the Russian and Ukraine conflict is also responsible for the fuel crises. But he said as a government they will do what it takes to ensure fuel is available.
He disclosed that fuel is still available in the country, stressing that Government does not want fuel to be scarce.
Chairman for Motor Drivers Union, Alhaji Amadu Bah, revealed that people are taking Fuel to Neighboring Liberia, stating that the fuel problem is everywhere. Mr. Bah said that Government should not be blamed for the current crisis.
Chairman Bah then urged his fellow drivers to take it easy with the people during the economic difficulties across the world.
Edmond Abu of the Native Consortium, said government should ensure that fuel is available across the country because people want it and that it is difficult at this time to get fuel.
It has become very clear that some Sierra Leoneans are not helping with the situation, as many people have joined in the buying of fuel at filling stations and in turn selling it at high prices at the Black Market.
The Public is also urging the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) to ensure it monitor the situation so that fuel dealers do not cause unnecessary suffering for the public.
Some other fuel dealers are also now in the habit of keeping fuel for their preferred customers, depriving people on the queue.
