Leaders from the Civil Society Consortium on Petroleum, Tuesday 22nd July 2025, publicly condemned a so-called civil society activist, Mr. Edmond Abu of Native Consortium, for allegedly blackmailing key officials within the organization.
The criticism follows recent accusations levied by Mr. Edmond Abu against Brima Baluwa Koroma, the Director-General of the National Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NPRA), threatening to appeal to the Inspector General of Police to investigate Mr. Edmond Abu, Head of the Native Consortium, for blackmailing reputable institutions like NPRA, the National Telecommunications Authority, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and mobile phone companies, among others, and chasing them for money.
They revealed that Mr. Edmond Abu does not have the wherewithal to mobilize “a one-thousand-man march,” to protest, and that his so-called organisation is a “one-man show” representing a consortium. And they asked if in fact he is registered with the relevant authorities, adding that he is behaving like a politician and comedian, therefore urging him to respect authority, also affirming that petrol prices cannot be changed daily, that the NPRA operates within the laws, that the new Director General was recently appointed by the President and approved by Parliament.
“Mr. Brima Baluwa Koroma is qualified for the position as he has worked in the industry for decades. The NPRA pays huge sums in dollars for the use of the Platte to determine the prices of petroleum products, and no dealer is allowed to sell above the ceiling. The NPRA has opened the market space to more players. It must also be noted that the NPRA has won international awards. The sector is very difficult to manage,” the consortium underscored.
At the press conference held at the conference hall of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) at Campbell Street on Freetown, leaders from the consortium expressed their outrage over what they described as unfounded claims tarnishing the hard-earned reputations of reputable institutions within the petroleum sector.
Mr. Moses Sellu Mambu, enlightening about the complexities surrounding petroleum management in Sierra Leone, emphasized that successive governments have struggled to effectively manage the sector, primarily because they rely heavily on Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to import the products; but however, noted, the recent improvements in the sector that have led to a significant increase in storage capacity, now exceeding 300 percent underscors that Sierra Leone has ample reserved stocks to meet fuel demands, capable of sustaining the country for three months without imports.
He furthered that government is committed to ensuring fuel availability and collaborating with international partners to implement pricing formulas, articulating that government does not solely dictate price adjustments adding that government must engage with multiple stakeholders when determining price changes, including consultations with line agencies.
With around five importers of petroleum products currently operating in the country, competition has fostered a more favourable environment for fuel accessibility and affirmed that this increased competition has even caused some marketing companies to drop prices below the price ceiling of NLe 27.40.
Mr. William Sao Lamin, a senior member of the consortium, reiterated by urging the public to refrain from damaging the reputations of well-meaning individuals and organizations like the NPRA and its Director General. He criticized Edmond Abu’s allegations, labelling them as both reckless and baseless given that they lacked any supporting evidence revealing that Edmond Abu has consistently targeted the sector with his attacks after collecting payments, thereby casting a shadow on a vital industry.
William Sao Lamin further challenged Edmond Abu to publicly demonstrate his legitimacy as a civil society actor by providing proof of his registration and membership base and threatened to take up the issue with the Inspector General of Police for Edmond Abu to be investigated.
Providing a broader context, Mr. Alphonso Manley, head of the consortium, articulated the recent transformative advancements achieved by the NPRA cataloguing the distinction between international pricing frameworks and local control intimating that while Platt pricing guides refined product prices internationally, it is the NPRA that sets local fuel prices based on a comprehensive pricing formula based on factors like the exchange rates and various economic indicators.
Alphonso Manley went on to emphasize that the NPRA does not regulate transportation costs but the Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with other stakeholders like the Drivers’ Union; while the NPRA supervises the downstream sector of petroleum distribution underlining that Sierra Leone has enjoyed stability in fuel supply, established sufficient storage facilities nationwide and disclosed ongoing efforts by the NPRA to enhance storage capacities across the country, demonstrating a commitment to improved operational efficiency.
The leaders of the Consortium also stressed the need for responsible reporting and advocacy within the civil society space, urging colleagues to avoid unethical practices that can jeopardize the integrity of social activism and affirmed that CSOs must rise above disinformation and work collaboratively for the advancement of the country.
As the press conference concluded, the sentiment among the consortium’s members was clear: the discourse surrounding petroleum management in Sierra Leone must be rooted in honesty and supported by verifiable facts as they called for solidarity among civil society groups to ensure that the valuable contributions of credible organizations like the NPRA are not overshadowed by the actions of individuals seeking to exploit situations for personal gain.
In light of such developments, there remains cautious optimism among stakeholders that with increased awareness and transparency, NPRA can continue to effectively navigate the complexities of the petroleum sector, ultimately benefiting the citizens of Sierra Leone.
The question and answer session climaxed the well-attended event.
