Sierra Leone: Popular Sierra Leonean business guru and Chief Executive Officer of Sierra STAR Group, Abdulai Sidibay, has told officers of one of the oldest military barracks in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), the Simba Koro 9th Battalion Infantry Brigade situated in the Eastern District of Kono, that he will fully fund the uncompleted officers’ quarters and mosque project that has been halted for years due to lack of finance.
According to Sidibay, he is going to ensure that work starts soonest, “but it should be done in consultation with the individual that started the mosque project”, he said.
“For the uncompleted officers’ quarters, I will take it to total completion; that will give the battalion a new facelift of an ultramodern structure,” he added. The CEO furthered, “We as individuals can assist in many areas of concerns as government cannot be left to do everything. We need to help as citizens in our own little way. Adding your little contribution with government will make a better development. We have travelled extensively and seen such in other countries so we have to do the same here.”
He said one of the reasons he chose this barracks “is not because it is based in Kono, because the way and manner they have been administering their security routine making the district the safest in terms of crimes and unrest as compared to other districts”.
With the completion of the personnel quarters and mosque, he said he believes more soldiers will be happy to live in the barracks. It would be recalled that the barracks had been depreciating for many years waiting to be rehabilitated, as confirmed by a private soldier who has been residing there for several years.
The private soldier noted that the arrival of the new military commander, Bas Kamara, in the past few months has necessitated some projects within the battalion that have changed the looks of the barracks “as the entire administrative block is painted, proper sanitation installed and ensuring that the barracks is clean”. Responding to CEO Sidibay’s gesture, Brigade Commander of the 9th Infantry Brigade, Lieutenant Commander Bas Kamara said he is overwhelmed with joy for such news from the CEO of Sierra STAR Group over the completion of the quarters and mosque.
“With this news my men will now be happy to live within the barracks. Due to less housing in the barracks my men prefer to stay out of the barracks which is not good for the soldier and us. “With this we want to express our gratitude to the Sidibay family for this gesture,” he said.
He continued by personally thanking the CEO and team for the unannounced visit to the barracks where he was briefed about their area of responsibility in the barracks and its immediate environs. Abdulai Sidibay, fondly called CDB the Bomber, is a Sierra Leonean multi-business tycoon born in Kono, Eastern Region.
He has a business empire called Sierra STAR GROUP which comprises transportation, heavy duty machinery, water and beverage bottling production, borehole drilling, and disposable dishes production, poised to employ thousands of youths nationwide.
ZIJ/04/2021