By Rhoda Godwin
The Managing Director/CEO of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, has extended a hand of fellowship to the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to seek ways of ensuring the economic development of the Niger Delta region.
During a courtesy visit to the PAP Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, in Abuja, Amgbare recalled that the NDBDA was conceived as a special purpose vehicle to drive development in the Niger Delta Basin.
However, when the Authority failed to achieve its goals, other interventionist agencies like PAP were established to address the region’s agitations.
Amgbare said the purpose of his visit was to forge synergy with the PAP office to drive meaningful economic development of the region, in line with the vision of the Willinks Commission of 1957.
He also sought PAP’s cooperation to support the NDBDA’s “Food Security Is The Real Security” campaign
His words : “My visit is primarily to forge synergy with the PAP office to drive meaningful economic development of the region in line with the vision of the Willinks Commission of 1957.
” The Niger Delta Basin Development Authority was conceived as a special purpose vehicle to drive development in the Niger Delta Basin. “However, when it failed to achieve its goals aggitation in the region hightened giving birth to other interventionist agencies like the Directorate of Food Roads and Rural Infrastructure, (DFRRI)Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission, (OMPADEC,) Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) and the latest being the Presidential Amnesty Programme ( PAP).
” My mission to PAP is to seek your cooperation to drive home the “Food Security Is The Real Security” campaign of the NDBDA ” , Prince Amgbare added
In response, Dr. Otuaro reiterated PAP’s commitment to addressing the agitation of the Niger Delta people through various development strategies, including plans to expand its scholarship programs to non-arms bearers like women to learn vocational skills.
He assured the NDBDA boss of PAP’s preparedness to tackle the perennial flooding and its challenges in the region together with the Authority.
Dr. Otuaro commended Amgbare for his dedication to the development of the Niger Delta and assured that the two agencies will work together to achieve President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the region.
” I will not work at cross-purposes with you in executing Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he said.
