Day Break Column

Thursday 9th June, 2022 there was fuel shortage across Freetown. 100s of commercial vehicles, kekeh and commercial motorbikes (okadas) were in queues at various filling stations finding ways to get their tanks filled.

Some concerned citizens told this medium that fuel regulators are planning to increase fuel products to either Le 18,000 or Le 20,000.

Kekeh and commercial motorbike riders are not helping the situation; they have been overloading and over pricing commuters.

Some commuters especially WASSCE candidates who were rushing to exams hall for Mathematic, and average business persons did not have a choice but to succumb to the new price from the Kekeh riders and motorbike riders.

Barracks old Road motorbike riders have been demanding Le 7000 from Sierra Leoneans to take them from Shell Old Road to Upgun, and Kekeh riders are demanding same for the same destination.

Only few Poda podas were on the road yesterday morning.

100s of other commuters in Waterloo and Jui junctions werepatiently waiting for vehicles to take them to their various destinations.

On the flip side, the few Poda podas on the road had been engaging in overloading and exploiting commuters. They were asking them to Le 5000 from Jui junction to Texaco and Shell. The current government price from Jui junction to town is Le 3,500 and from Bombay Street to Waterloo Le 5,500 but unfortunately majority of the drivers and conductors (apprentice) were demanding Le 6000 yesterday. Vehicles plying Water to Bombay were stopping halfway (Jui), charging Le 5000. They always take advantage of the situation, exploiting poor citizens.

The reason for the closure of some filling stations across Freetown was not clear but it is believed it’s because of the imminent increase in fuel price.