By Kelfala Kaikai
Today, February 25th, 2025, the Native Consortium and Research Centre, led by its Executive Chairman, Edmond Abu Jnr, proudly honored Zala Fuel Company amongst the 500 petrol stations across the country as the only company which has managed to break the record for selling below market pricing and complete fuel calibration measurement, in a special ceremony hosted at the Zala Head Office in Mortaim, along the Regent-Grafton Road.
While many fuel stations exploit customers, Zala is the only company offering the pump price of fuel at Le 26 per litre both at Upgun station and Mortaim and they are selling complete litre – meaning Zala Petroleum is NLe 1.3 cheaper than the national pump price of Le 27.3 which no other fuel company has ever done.
Native Consortium conducted research last year and found out that there are about 500 fuel stations in Sierra Leone, and 60% of that total are in the Western Area. According to the results from the Calibration or Measurement only, 18% of all petrol stations sell at a complete litre which shows that the Standards Bureau is not doing its job. For instance, in Bo, only three (3) stations meet this standard and we will be giving them an award next week. We shall invite the press to cover the event. We shall soon start the process of naming and shaming now. But for the past six months, our independent monitoring has confirmed that Zala Fuel Company remains steadfast in both affordability and complete in their measurement.
🔹 Why Zala stands out to bag the prize?
✅ Cheaper Fuel Prices – Saving customers money in tough economic times.
✅ Full Calibration or measurement – Delivering every drop you pay for and is one of the 18% of fuel stations that sell compete litre.
Yet, instead of celebrating this consumer-friendly initiative, some are campaigning against Zala simply for offering fair prices. Let’s be clear—anyone threatening Zala is fighting against ordinary Sierra Leoneans and will be confronted by the Native Consortium. Edmond Abu unequivocally stated that Zala has not acted illegally because there is nowhere in the PRA Act that prevents a dealer from selling below the ceiling price or floor price. Therefore, those stations going to State House to lobby the President, we will not only name and shame them but we will take legal action against them. This is why we want to commend and give a special award to PRA for not bowing to the pressure. Regrettably, this was the same pressure the old NATCOM succumbed to years back when Qcell came to Sierra Leone. They went and instituted floor tariff forcing Qcell not to sell airtime at a cheaper price.
Thus, we commend the Executive Director and his team at Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), Mr. Baluwa Koroma, for ensuring that the more than 20 years advocacy of the Consortium to liberalize the fuel market has come to fruition.
Finally, we urge Sheku Gibrilla Turay, Managing Director of Zala Fuel Company, to stay the course and continue putting the people first. Sierra Leone needs more businesses like Zala!