The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Hon. Ebitimi Amgbare, has described his appointment as Deputy Director of Communities in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 presidential election as a higher calling.
Amgbare, who expressed gratitude to Tinubu for the opportunity to serve in the campaign council, said the appointment reflected the recognition of his contributions and political track record.
He pledged to use his new position to mobilise communities across the country and persuade Nigerians to support Tinubu’s economic reforms and bid for a second term in office.
Recalling the challenges faced by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South geopolitical zone during the 2023 general election, Amgbare said campaigning for the party in the region had been difficult, although its supporters worked hard to secure about 25 per cent of the total votes cast, according to his account.
He expressed optimism that the party would perform better in the region in 2027 through sustained grassroots engagement and increased public awareness of the administration’s policies and achievements.
Highlighting the administration’s economic reforms, Amgbare cited the removal of the petrol subsidy and the resulting increase in revenue allocations to state governments.
He argued that before the 2023 election, several state governments struggled to meet their salary obligations, with some reportedly paying only half salaries, partly because of the financial burden associated with fuel subsidies.
According to him, the removal of the subsidy has increased the revenue available to the federal, state and local governments, enabling them to meet their financial responsibilities more effectively.
“From the moment President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared that subsidy was gone, Bayelsa State started receiving about N71 billion monthly, alongside other states of the federation,” he said.
Amgbare likened the Federal Government to a father who works hard to earn money to provide for his family, arguing that increased revenue should translate into improved welfare and development for Nigerians.
He also highlighted the administration’s student support initiatives, particularly the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he said had provided assistance to a significant number of Nigerian students.
Amgbare further cited the administration’s foreign exchange reforms, arguing that the unification of exchange rates had helped address distortions in the foreign exchange market and created opportunities for businesses.
On infrastructure, he said the APC-led administration had intensified road construction and rehabilitation projects across the country’s six geopolitical zones, describing infrastructure development as essential to national growth.
Among the projects he identified were the East-West Road, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the proposed Sokoto-Badagry corridor and road projects in the South-East.
He added that investments in technical skills development were another important aspect of the administration’s agenda, particularly efforts aimed at equipping Nigerian youths with practical skills and expanding opportunities for employment.
Amgbare maintained that these initiatives would form a central part of his campaign message as he engages communities and encourages voters to assess the administration’s policies and programmes ahead of the 2027 general election.