Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
The Niger Delta Basin Development Authority ( NDBDA) has commenced touring of some identified government farms of core mandate areas of the agency.
The familiarisation tour according to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the agency is to revamp the farms to ensure food sufficiency for Nigerians.
The agency visited several communitiew and local including Orogun, Obodo, Isiokolo, Koko, Imensi farms in Idemili area office and the famous Peremabiri rice farm in the Southern Ijaw local goverment area of Bayelsa state.
Familiarisation tour to Delta, the Agency’s boss Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, solicits Delta state government partnership regarding food production.
The State Governor, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori who was represented by his Deputy Chief Monday Onyeme in Asaba, expressed the state government’s preparedness to partner with the agency for food security.
Prince Amgbare who was accompanied on the visit by the Director Agriculture services, Dr. Roland Gbarabe and the Director engineering services, Engr. Quadri Olatubosun, and other staff of the Agency informed that the NDBDA is an intervention agency and appealed to partner with the state government for greater food production for the people.
The NDBDA boss also informed that the agency’s farms are in several communities in the state including Orogun, Obodo, Isiokolo, Koko, Imensi farms in Idemili area office, appealed for necessary support.
”As a Basin Authority we must collaborate with the state government. It is an intervention agency, we need you to partner with us to produce food for the people . Please give us all necessary support” he appealed .
In his response, Chief Onyeme said the state government has so much interest in food security as it has even set up committee in this regard in the state with him as chairman one of the commttees.
He said the state government was prepared to assist the agency to succeed in its drive to produce abundant food in the state hence it is the Authority’s major goal .
“We have so much interest in food security.
“The state government has even set up two committees to boost food security in the state.
“I am a farmer. Your presence in 18 LGAs in the Niger Delta is huge.
”The Delta state government is hundred percent willing to partner with the NDBDA” he said. He further assured the MD/CEO that the state government will be available to attend to any area of the Agency’s needs .
” Furnish us with your locations and how we can partner with you. With our committee on food security we will need experts from other areas to put us through.
” It will also make the dividends of democracy get to the people. With our combined efforts we will be able to provide food for our people
”By your visit, a very important collaboration between Delta state government and the NDBDA have taken place today ” the Deputy Governor noted.
The MD/CEO Prince Amgbare also visited the Orogun and Isiokolo area offices of the agency during the tour in the state.
Prince Amgbare who was received by Chief Wilfred Oliseneku, President – General of Emonu Community, Orogun and members of staff of the agency’s Orogun office, expressed delight for the presence of massive assets of the agency and promised to make them functional soon.
He said the vision of the agency is to revive the various farm products in the area offices where a massive market and a hub of farm products for buyers.
”I am happy to see the wonderful assets here.
”For us, it is to make them work. We should see people here, build a market, make it a hub“, he added .
Also at the Isiokolo farms of the Agency, the MD/ CEO who commended them for making the place functional despite the challenges.
He assured them of the agency’s readiness to revamp the place through renewed funding to achieve the desired food security.
He said the agency’s collaboration with the state goveenment will bring better results soon.
The NDBDA boss was received by Urang Nyanam Desmond, the Area Manager and staff of the office.
Visit to Peremabiri rice farm
The MD/CEO was at the famous Peremabiri rice farm in the Southern Ijaw local goverment area of Bayelsa state on Monday, where he disclosed plans to revive it.
He also appealed for cooperation from indigenes of the community to make it a reality.
