Freetown, 3rd July 2026 — The National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) has ordered an immediate stop to the construction of a gas station at Macauley Street, Circular Road Junction, declaring the site unauthorised under national safety and regulatory guidelines.
A signpost was erected at the location by NPRA officials, halting work on the facility. The Authority cited violations of the NPRA Act 2025, which empowers it to regulate the downstream petroleum supply chain, including licensing, importation, storage, transportation, and distribution.
Community residents welcomed the intervention, noting that the densely populated area, with houses packed closely together and frequent electrical sparks during the rainy season, posed a serious risk if a fuel station were allowed to operate there.
NPRA’s May 2026 guidelines for gas station construction stipulate strict requirements, including a minimum land size of three town lots with legal claim, not located on a roundabout, junction, or curve, and at least 100 meters away from such sites.
A frontage of no less than 120 feet and a clear distance of at least 30 meters from public facilities. The land in question violates multiple provisions of these guidelines, reinforcing the decision to halt construction.
