Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Consumer rights advocate Edmond Abu Jr. has raised serious concerns over an alleged closed-door meeting involving major fuel dealers and government officials, accusing them of conspiring to manipulate fuel prices in Sierra Leone.
In a strongly worded statement on what he described as a “Black Friday,” Abu claimed that leading fuel companies LeoneCo and NP (National Petroleum) used their influence to pressure smaller fuel stations to abandon recent price reductions and revert to higher pump prices.
According to Abu, the cartel-like effort forced dealers who had lowered prices below Le26 per litre to increase them again. He alleged that President Julius Maada Bio was against the move and had attempted to intervene, but by the time he acted, the decision had already been implemented.
“The cartel led by LeoneCo and NP has succeeded in using government officials to force other stations not to sell below Le26,” Abu said. “President Bio was totally against the idea he intervened, but it was too late to stop the conspiracy.”
To back Abu’s claim, popular civil society activist Alphonso Manley disclosed that major fuel dealers and some officials held a vote at the Office of the Chief Minister to decide on the pricing issue, rather than basing decisions on global market trends. According to Abu, only Zalla voted against the cartel’s push for higher prices.
Abu further alleged that the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), which was expected to announce a new pump price on Friday, failed to do so allegedly under pressure from the same fuel dealers.
He warned the public to expect increased fuel prices, stating that some stations had already been instructed to sell at Le27 per litre. “LeoneCo was just playing tricks on Sunday by lowering their price temporarily to gain public sympathy and later claimed losses,” Abu said. “Yet Aminata and Zallafric are still selling at lower prices without complaining about losses.”
Edmond Abu extended his appreciation to President Bio for what he described as a timely intervention that stopped the cartel from going further. He also urged the President to convene another emergency meeting, warning that the situation remains volatile.
“This is the height of betrayal against your people just to please two companies that have taken Sierra Leone’s fuel sector hostage,” he concluded.
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