1 Comment 
The Director of the Native Consortium, Edmond Abu, has strongly criticised the latest fuel price increase in Sierra Leone, describing it as “unjustifiable” and calling on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to intervene and compel the government to review the March 7 petroleum pricing formula.
In a statement issued following the announcement of the new pump prices, Abu said the civil society organisation is closely monitoring developments in the global oil market, particularly tensions affecting the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East.
However, he argued that the price adjustments implemented by the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and the Ministry of Finance do not align with the actual changes in international fuel prices.
“The Consortium is following the event in the Hormuz corridor in the Middle East,” Abu said. “However, we are calling on IMF Africa to help us call the Ministry of Finance and the NPRA to order to please bring down the March 7 petroleum pricing formula as it is disproportionately miscalculated and high looking at the Platts.”
According to Abu, figures cited in the pricing formula show that between January and March 2026, the cost of petrol and diesel increased from $636.40 and $626.26 per metric ton to $683.53 and $683.93 per metric ton respectively. He said this represents increases of $47.13 (7.42 percent) for petrol and $56.67 (9.21 percent) for diesel.
Abu questioned why the increase at the pump was significantly higher than the percentage rise in international benchmark prices, arguing that the government should have limited the increase to around Le30 per litre rather than the new Le32 price.
“So 7.4% increment in the pump price per liter for petrol should have been proportionately pegged at Le30 and adjust (subsidize) some cents in other tariff component in the formula and stick with Le30 per liter,” he stated. “The Le32 is 12% (Le3.5) sharp increment which is unjustifiable, miscalculated and unacceptable compared to the increment on the Platts.”
The civil society leader also appealed directly to President Julius Maada Bio to intervene and urge relevant authorities to reconsider the pricing formula.
“This is Lent/Ramadan season,” Abu said. “Please ask the NPRA and the Finance Ministry to swallow their pride and take a human face to go over the March 7, 2026 pricing formula.”
Abu maintained that a review of the formula would help ease the burden on ordinary Sierra Leoneans who are already grappling with the rising cost of living.
The government and the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority have not yet publicly responded to the concerns raised by the Native Consortium regarding the latest fuel price adjustments.
Slavery mentality. IMF will be the one to talk to the government for the fuel price to come down. Colonial masters will settle your case. Very shameful. Sierra Leoneans wake up. Shame on all of you, all the time calling on white people to solve your problems. You don’t have the brains to do nothing good for yourself. It’s very sad. Why can’t you discuss domestic affairs between your selves brothers and sisters unless you call white people. Shame on you. Where do you see white people calling any black people to help them solve their problems. NONE!!!. For me, it is very shameful and sad and it’s a slavery life and mentality. Period.