A fresh political debate has erupted in Delta State over the government's infrastructure spending after the African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate, Engr. Isaac O. Eshor, questioned whether the state's massive investment in flyovers adequately reflects the most urgent needs of ordinary Deltans.

Eshor's intervention centres on a figure he describes as the verified cost of major flyover projects awarded under the present administration: approximately ₦177 billion.

His argument is not that roads and flyovers have no value. Rather, he is asking a more fundamental question: at a time when unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living are placing enormous pressure on families, should such a substantial amount of public money be concentrated on major road infrastructure without an equally aggressive investment in jobs, skills, healthcare and productive industries?

The figures behind his calculation deserve attention.

In July 2025, the Delta State Government announced the approval of ₦59.7 billion for the construction of the Uromi Junction flyover in Agbor and ₦39.3 billion for the Otovwodo Junction flyover in Ughelli. These projects were part of a much larger ₦230 billion package approved by the State Executive Council covering projects across sectors including roads, health, energy and riverine infrastructure.

Eshor's analysis adds those figures to the reported ₦78 billion contract covering the PTI Junction, DSC Roundabout and Enerhen/Marine Gate flyover and road-expansion works in the Warri/Effurun axis, arriving at approximately ₦177 billion.

That number has now become the centrepiece of his criticism.

What Else Could ₦177 Billion Achieve?

The AAC candidate argues that the conversation should not end with how much concrete can be poured or how many traffic bottlenecks can be eliminated.

He wants Deltans to consider what the same resources could achieve if directed toward human capital and productive economic activity.

For example, Eshor proposes establishing fully equipped vocational and technical training centres across Delta's 25 local government areas, creating facilities where young people could learn practical skills ranging from engineering and fabrication to agriculture, technology, construction and other trades.

Under his illustration, ₦2 billion per centre would require ₦50 billion for 25 centres, leaving another ₦127 billion for equipment, instructors, training programmes and youth support.

He also points toward agriculture and the state's enormous maritime potential.

Delta possesses extensive waterways, farmland and access to the Atlantic coast. Eshor argues that serious investment in agricultural processing, cold-chain infrastructure, cooperative farming and maritime development could create productive employment rather than simply providing temporary jobs during construction.

His argument becomes particularly pointed when he looks at the state's ports.

Warri, Koko, Sapele and Burutu have long featured in discussions about Delta's maritime potential. Eshor believes rehabilitating and fully activating such infrastructure could create thousands of jobs while positioning Delta as a stronger logistics and industrial hub.

Healthcare is another area he says deserves greater attention.

Rather than concentrating enormous sums on a handful of large infrastructure projects, he argues that government should also consider extensive investment in primary healthcare facilities so that residents in rural and riverine communities can access basic medical services without travelling long distances.

₦230 Billion Approved in One Executive Council Meeting

Perhaps the figure that adds another dimension to the debate is the ₦230 billion approved by the Delta State Executive Council in July 2025.

The state government itself confirmed the approval, explaining that the projects covered different sectors and were part of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori's infrastructure and development programme. The government also stated that some non-performing contracts were reviewed or revoked to ensure value for public investment.

This distinction is important.

The ₦230 billion was not ₦230 billion spent exclusively on flyovers. It was an approval covering multiple projects. Therefore, the political argument should not be presented as though the entire amount went into bridges.

Eshor's criticism is instead about the broader question of how government determines priorities and allocates scarce public resources.

'A Government Must Build People, Not Only Concrete'

The AAC candidate's central message is that infrastructure should ultimately serve people.

A flyover can reduce congestion. A new road can shorten travel time. A bridge can connect communities and stimulate economic activity.

But infrastructure alone cannot solve unemployment.

A young graduate without a job still needs an opportunity.

A farmer needs access to markets and processing facilities.

A small business owner needs affordable electricity and financing.

A mother in a remote community needs a functioning health centre.

A young person needs skills that can translate into income.

That is the argument Eshor is placing before Deltans.

He contends that government should not be judged solely by the number of major projects it commissions, but by whether those projects translate into better livelihoods, stronger local economies and sustainable opportunities for citizens.

Eshor Promises Public Disclosure of Contracts

Looking toward the 2027 Delta State governorship election, Eshor says an AAC administration would adopt a more transparent approach to public procurement.

He has promised that contracts under what he calls a FOCUS administration would be publicly tendered, independently scrutinised and published with details including the contract value, market benchmarks and eventual final cost.

The proposal is aimed at giving Deltans greater access to information about how public funds are committed and spent.

For now, the debate remains political, and the Oborevwori administration is likely to argue that infrastructure is itself an investment in economic development and that the state's approved projects extend far beyond flyovers.

But Eshor's intervention has placed a difficult question on the table:

If Delta has hundreds of billions of naira available for infrastructure, how much should go into concrete, and how much should go directly into building the people who will drive the state's economy?

That is a question that cannot be answered by political slogans alone.

It requires Deltans to examine the numbers, assess the projects and ultimately decide what kind of development they want from their government.

Southern Report