Residents Decry Neglect at Mile 91 NP SL Fuel Station

By: Benjamin Conteh

Once regarded as a critical fueling point along Sierra Leone’s busy Mile 91 corridor, the NP SL (Ltd) outlet is now facing what residents describe as a slow and painful collapse. Since early 2025, the station’s operations have steadily deteriorated, transforming a strategic national asset into a source of frustration, hardship, and uncertainty for surrounding communities. As the crisis stretches into 2026, concerns over neglect, accountability, and governance have intensified.
Residents, commercial drivers, traders, and daily commuters say the Mile 91 fuel station has become increasingly unreliable, plagued by frequent equipment breakdowns, erratic service delivery, and prolonged shutdowns. For a facility expected to ensure steady fuel supply along one of the country’s most important transport routes, its current state represents, according to locals, institutional failure and abandonment.
For several months, affected users have repeatedly raised alarms about malfunctioning fuel pumps, inconsistent availability of petroleum products, and unexplained closures. These disruptions have had a cascading effect on daily life, particularly for transport operators and small-scale traders who rely heavily on fuel availability to sustain their livelihoods. Transport fares have reportedly increased, goods have become more expensive to move, and business activities have slowed significantly.
Community members argue that the situation goes far beyond ordinary technical challenges. They allege a persistent lack of routine maintenance, weak managerial oversight, and possible mismanagement, which they believe have collectively contributed to recurring fuel shortages and extended periods of inactivity at the outlet.
“This station has been in this condition since 2025,” one resident said in frustration. “Every time we ask questions, we hear excuses instead of solutions. Meanwhile, our businesses are suffering, and nobody seems to be held accountable.”
Equally troubling to residents is the apparent silence from NP SL management. Despite the prolonged nature of the operational failures, there has been little or no public communication explaining the underlying causes or providing a clear roadmap for recovery. This lack of transparency has fueled public suspicion and eroded confidence in the institution’s ability to address the crisis effectively.
Observers and civil society voices argue that the Mile 91 situation highlights a broader governance and accountability challenge, where key public and commercial infrastructure is allowed to deteriorate with minimal consequences. In a region where fuel access is critical not only for transportation but also for healthcare delivery, emergency response, and economic activity, such neglect carries serious social and economic implications.
Residents are now calling on NP SL management, sector regulators, and relevant government authorities to urgently intervene. Their demands include an independent technical and administrative assessment of the Mile 91 facility, open communication with the public, and immediate, tangible steps to restore full and reliable operations.
As the crisis drags on into 2026, the Mile 91 NP SL outlet stands as more than just a malfunctioning fuel station. For many, it has become a stark symbol of how prolonged neglect, weak oversight, and poor accountability can severely impact communities when left unaddressed.