The governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) for Delta State, Engr. Isaac Eshor, has formally declared war on youth unemployment, promising to transform Delta into a West African blue economy hub if elected in the upcoming 2027 gubernatorial election.
Speaking at a media briefing following his official endorsement by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in Abuja, Eshor laid out a radical economic transformation blueprint focused on maritime development, energy independence, and human capital investment.
Eshor, a professional maritime engineer and oil and gas expert, stressed that Delta State must immediately shift away from overdependence on federal allocations and unlock its coastline and waterway assets.
“I will turn Delta State into a blue economy,” Eshor declared. “We have the coastline, the ports, and the strategic location to build world-class dockyards, vessel maintenance hubs, and shipping infrastructure. Economic transformation does not happen through speeches alone, it requires deliberate investments in critical infrastructure that stimulate growth and attract private investors.”
His plan includes establishing a modern dry dock facility and maritime technical training centers to equip thousands of young Deltans with engineering and logistics skills, positioning the state alongside top regional maritime centers.
Beyond maritime development, the AAC candidate outlined additional key commitments under his “FOCUS Agenda”:
Harnessing Delta’s vast natural gas reserves to build dedicated turbine systems capable of providing 24-hour uninterrupted power supply across the state’s three senatorial districts.
AAC cited Agricultural Reinvigoration as key to reviving a $1 billion Pan-African agricultural investment plan to boost local food production and create agribusiness processing jobs.
His FOCUS agenda includes Implementing free primary and secondary education alongside a dedicated ₦100,000 monthly allowance for primary and secondary school teachers across the state and enacting legally binding reforms to guarantee free maternal healthcare for pregnant women and free medical care for seniors aged 70 and above.
Directly challenging the incumbent administration to a televised public debate on economic management, Eshor argued that Delta’s substantial revenues should translate into functional infrastructure and lower unemployment rather than cosmetic projects.
Endorsing the candidate, NYCN President Comrade Isa Babangida emphasized that young Nigerians require proven leaders capable of managing complex economic structures rather than traditional political patronage.
“Delta should be treated not merely as a political entity, but as an economic project capable of attracting investments and generating sustainable livelihoods,” Babangida noted, citing Eshor’s background in marine operations and business enterprise as crucial for economic recovery.
Reaffirming his confidence ahead of the 2027 polls, Eshor dismissed traditional party dominance, asserting that “the people are the structure” and expressing certainty that Delta voters are ready for genuine economic transformation.
