The new Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer ( MD/CEO) of the Niger Delta Basin Authority (NDBDA) , Prince Ebitimi Amgbare says the people of the Niger Delta region have cause to thank President Bola Tinubu for the lot he has done for the region even before and as president of Nigeria.

Amgbare spoke shortly on arrival at the headquarters of the agency in Port Harcourt to assume duties.

The CEO who was ushered into the premises of the agency amidst jubilation by staff and management of the agency said President Tinubu meant well for the people of the Niger Delta region.

He explained that this informed his appointment as the MD/CEO , to change the empowerment narratives of the agency.

The NDBDA , he noted, is the foundation of all interventionist agencies, and it is core to solving the problems of the Niger Delta region.

He said he is the representative of the President on the agency , and proud of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.

Amgbare disclosed that the current Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) being enjoyed by youths of Niger Delta region was the brainchild of President Tinubu long before he became the President.

He said: : “I am proud of the Renewed Hope Agenda.I am Mr. President’s representative here. Mr. President means well for Nigeria and for our region.

“The amnesty programme we are enjoying today was initiated by him.

“In 2009, some of the then Niger Delta militants went with me to see him (Tinubu) because he wanted to start the process of engaging thenMr. President Umar Yar’adua on the need to give our Ex- militants amnesty to surrender their arms.

“That meeting was very fruitful.It was a very fruitful one and that set the tone for the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

“He meant well for the Niger Delta region” , he said.

According to Amgbare, the Basin Authority is the foundation of all interventions.

“When they did not get it right with the Basin Authority, they came with OMPADEC. OMPADEC was just to pacify. They couldn’t achieve that, the agitation continued.

“NDDC is also political,this is the core. If you want to solve the problems of the region you must empower the Basin Authority to achieve that, and that is what he has done”, Amgbare explained.

The new MD/ CEO immediately had his maiden meeting with the management team of the agency.

He assured them of his passion to partner with them, to provide what they need to succeed as civil servants.

He stated that as a one time civil servant he knows what it takes for a civil servant to succeed, and he came prepared to make them happy.

“We need passion , and we also need good will. We have come with passion, we have come with good will .

“By the grace of God, today is just to assure the management team that you have a partner who can bring these things that you need to succeed.

“We want to leave here with our heads high up. That when we were here , this Basin Authority experienced progress, that you have a partner that can help you achieve that.

“You are career civil servants, every day matters to you.

“I was in the civil service too. So I understand what you are going through and what to achieve. And if you don’t have the support to achieve it, it is very frustrating. Some people can just resign and just go home. But you can be rest assured that we can build that partnership.

“I can work with anybody. It is my assessment. I will not judge any of you based on what I have heard. I will judge you by our engagement.

“Don’t judge me by what you have heard about me , judge me by what you see in our engagement. This engagement will be very fruitful.

“On my own part, I will make it very fruitful , it will be very rewarding. All of us will be very happy at the end of the day” Amgbare assured.
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Also addressing the general staff and management team, the MD/CEO said he came to head the agency with renewed hope.

He noted that, to achieve the desired results , all hands must be on deck to collectively achieve it.

He emphasised that workers welfare will be treated as paramount to the smooth, harmonious management of any organisation, and assured them that everything would be done to ensure cordial working relationships.

The MD/CEO also encouraged workers of the agency to form what is called “Departmental Hour” once in every two months.

He explained that It would be a forum where each department would engage their departmental heads to promote issues of concern, adding that there would also be rewards for best performing departments.

He said: ” I have come here to renew your hope. I can tell you that hope is renewed already.

“To achieve the hope, we must work together. We have no reason to work in two different directions. We can’t work at cross purposes.

“I know the importance of workers welfare.I will do everything possible to have a cordial working relationship with you.

“We will run a very transparent system with your support. We will not short change you. What is possible you will know what is not possible I will tell your chairman to inform you.

“I will encourage you to have Departmental Hour, once every two month.

“All civil servants in the department will engage the Head of Department on what you agreed to promote.We will reward performing departments”, he explained.

Amgbare emphasised that “Improved welfare means you must be ready to give.

“We will come up with innovations. I believe in positive engagements that would result in positive results.

“Give information
that would help us succeed,
positive engagements , not anyhow engagements that will come and scatter us”, he advised.

Also in his maiden engagement with journalists shortly after the interface with staff and management team of the agency, Amgbare reiterated his determination to ensure a robust partnership to produce results.

Amgbare stated that he would drive the core-mandate of the agency which include the promotion of sanitation, provision of potable water, ensuring the safety of waterways and to contribute to the food security agenda of the President Tinubu-led administration.

Decrying the unhygienic sanitary disposition in most riverine communities in the Niger Delta, he says the authority would put plans in place to campaign against it and provide alternatives.

“I have come here as an agent of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his representative in this capacity to make sure that Mr. President succeeds.

“I have come to drive the core mandate of this Authority which is in the area of sanitation, provision of potable water ,making our waterways safe”.he said.

On the agriculture component of the Authority , the NDBDA MD/CEO, said his tenure would ensure that the agency contributes to the food security agenda of the government.

“We have come to promote sanitation, sanitation is key because the problem of our region is pathetic. As a matter of fact, the same water where we defecate is where we drink.We must campaign against it and provide alternatives so that our people will be safe.” He said.

He assured the management of the Authority of his sincere partnership to produce results.

Amgbare was later taken on a familiarisation tour of various components of the Authority including the water factory and the Ultramodern Laboratory.

Also in his first week in office, and in a spirited show of solidarity and reverence, the MD/CEO of the agency stood alongside the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and the entire Ijaw nation to honour the legacy of the Ijaw legend, Late Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro on the occasion of Boro Day anniversary.

The commemoration, held in Port Harcourt, was a poignant reminder of the indelible mark left by the revered leader in the annals of Niger Delta history.

In a powerful display of unity, Amgbare highlighted Boro’s pivotal role in the Niger Delta’s struggle for justice and development.