BY PROBLYN J ALPHA
On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, commercial motorbike riders in Koidu City took to the streets to protest the ongoing artificial scarcity of fuel, which has caused skyrocketing prices. The aggrieved riders barricaded several principal streets and ceased operations, expressing their dismay over the situation.
The protesters accused local fuel stations of deliberately creating the scarcity by selling fuel exclusively to street vendors, who then charge exorbitant prices of up to fifty Leones per litre. This practice, they claim, has severely impacted their livelihoods as they rely on affordable fuel to conduct their daily business.
“The inflated prices imposed by the street vendors have significantly affected our earnings and livelihoods,” said one of the protesting riders. “We have no option but to cease operations to attract the intervention of the government and concerned authorities.”
The riders are urging the government to ensure that fuel stations sell directly to all consumers at reasonable prices to curb the exploitative practices of street vendors and alleviate the artificial scarcity in the district.
Local sources suggest that the situation is exacerbated by the alleged inaction of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency’s monitoring officer in Kono District. The officer is accused of accepting bribes from fuel dealers and failing to address the fuel scarcity, unlike his counterparts in other districts who actively monitor fuel stations.
In response, Mohamed Maarthy, the Media and Public Relations Officer of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency, stated that 3.5 million liters of fuel are currently available in the country, sufficient for use until July 2024.
Despite police intervention to disperse the protesters and restore normalcy, there remains a noticeable scarcity of commercial motorbikes in Koidu City. The aggrieved riders hope that their protest will prompt immediate action to resolve the fuel crisis in Kono District.
