With banners heralding their joy of new beginning with renewed hope, songs and dancing steps accompanied drums of welcome, Hon.Prince Ebitimi Amgbare was ushered into the premises of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority(NDBDA), with Headquarters in Portharcourt by the management and staff of the agency, to commence his national assignment as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the agency.
With vast experience in politics and human management, Prince Amgbare however ,first surrendered his appointment as the MD/ CEO to God Almighty through a well attended Thanksgiving service at the Royal House of Grace Church in Yenagoa which was followed by a well attended reception.
Having thanked God for the new assignment, Hon.Prince Ebitimi Amgbare ( PEA) ,moved to Portharcourt to formally resume work the preceding Monday.
After the historic , significant hearty embrace by the staff and management team, Prince Amgbare hit the ground running with his maiden meeting with the core management team of the agency, and later with the general staff.
The brand new MD/CEO said he’s proud to associate with the renewed hope agenda, and stressed that he’s also the representative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the agency.
He said President Tinubu meant well for the people of the Niger Delta region.
The new MD/ CEO assured the management team 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 the needs of a civil servant to succeed, and he came prepared to make them happy .
His words : “We need the 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 managnent team that you have a partner who can bring these things that you need to succeed.
“We want to leave here with your 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 its 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” he assured the management team.
Re-echoeong President Tinubu’s good will for the Niger Delta region , MD/CEO says he’s proud with the renewed Hope Agenda , stressing that he represents Mr. President on the agency.
Prince Amgbare also 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.
The Basin Authority, which is the foundation of all interventionist agencies is core to solving the problems of the Niger Delta .
His words : “I am proud with 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”, said Prince Amgbare who recalled that in ” 2009, some of the then freedom fighters ( Niger Delta militants ) went with me to see him (Tinubu ) because he wanted to start the process of engaging Mr. 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.
Describing the Basin Authority as the foundation of all interventions , Prince Amgbare said “And you know that this 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 aggitation 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” .
Also addressing the general staff and management team where most of his policy statements were greeted with loud ovation , the MD/CEO says he came to head the agency with renewed hope, and however noted that to achieve the desired results all hands must be on deck to collectively achieve it .
Describing workers welfare as paramount to the smooth , harmonious management of any organisation, he says everything would be done to ensure a cordial working relationship.
Further assuring them of transparent policy of administration, he encouraged them 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 . There would also be rewards for best performed department.
His words : ” 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”.
Further explaining how the “departmental hour” engagement would work out , Prince Amgbare says
“All civil servant s in the department will engage the Head of Department on what you agreed to promote.
We will reward performing departments”
He 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 .
In a chart with journalists shortly after the interface with staff and management team of the agency, the MD/CEO reiterated his determination to ensure a robust partnership to produce results .
Re- echoing his mission and vision for the agency , Prince Amgbare stated that he would drive the core-mandate of the agency which include the promotion of sanitation , provision of portable water, ensuring the safety of waterways and to contribute to the food security agenda of the President Tinubu-led administration.
Decrieing 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.
His words :”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”.
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 .
His words : “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 assured the management of the Authority of his sincere partnership to produce results .
The Managing Director ,Chief Executive Officer 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 honor 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. Participants reflected on Boro’s legacy of courage and advocacy for the rights of the Ijaw people.
With Amgbare’s support and the fervent spirit of the IYC, Boro Day remains a symbol of hope for the Niger Delta, fueling efforts for a brighter future.
The MD/CEO was at the public bidding of projects being handled by the authority . The bid opening was suspended by the MD/CEO as a result of a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on procurement demanding clarification on the tenders of the Authority .
cancelled due to some lapses in the procurement process that violated the public procurement act 2007 and many other reasons.
Members of the labour Union of the agency also welcomed the MD/CEO and matters of mutual interest were discussed .
END
Foto: MD/CEO, NDBDA
HON. Prince EBITIMI AMGBARE
