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AAC Governorship Candidate Faults Delta Government Over Abandoned Asaba Textile Mill As Factory Rots Away
AAC Governorship Candidate Faults Delta Government Over Abandoned Asaba Textile Mill As Factory Rots Away
NEWS
The Nigerian Record
7/29/20262 min read
The African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate in Delta State, Engr. Isaac Eshor, has criticised the continued abandonment of the Asaba Textile Mill, describing the once-thriving industrial facility as a symbol of years of government neglect and missed economic opportunities.
In a statement, Eshor lamented that the factory, which once employed over 5,000 workers and sustained thousands of families across Delta State, has been left to rot despite repeated calls for its revival.
Established in 1965 as Bendel Textile Mill before it was renamed Asaba Textile Mill following the creation of Delta State in 1991, the factory was once the third-largest textile producer in Nigeria, driving industrial growth, employment and economic activities across the state.
Today, however, the once-bustling factory lies abandoned, with its rusting gates and overgrown surroundings serving as a stark reminder of the decline of one of Delta State's most significant industrial assets.
According to Eshor, labour unions had as far back as 2012 appealed to the Delta State Government to revive the textile mill, warning of the devastating economic consequences of allowing such a strategic asset to deteriorate. Fourteen years later, in 2026, the factory remains deserted.
He noted that the facility is located along Dennis Osadebe Road in Asaba, the Delta State capital, where government officials pass regularly, yet no meaningful effort has been made to restore it.
While acknowledging the nationwide collapse of Nigeria's textile industry, which has seen more than 180 factories shut down and over one million jobs lost since the 1980s, Eshor argued that other states have demonstrated that industrial revival remains achievable through deliberate government policies.
He cited Kaduna State's receipt of a federal roadmap for revitalising its textile industry and Abia State's ongoing discussions with investors to revive the historic Aba Textile Mills as examples of governments taking concrete steps to restore manufacturing.
Against this backdrop, Eshor questioned why the Asaba Textile Mill has remained abandoned despite its enormous economic potential and years of public appeals.
He maintained that his administration, if elected in 2027, would prioritise the revival of dormant industries, attract investments into manufacturing and create sustainable employment opportunities for thousands of Delta youths.
"The future of Delta cannot be built on abandoned assets," Eshor said. "Government must create an environment where industries can thrive and young people can find meaningful employment rather than leaving the state in search of opportunities elsewhere."
The AAC governorship candidate said Delta State possesses the land, strategic location, infrastructure potential and human capital required to become an industrial hub once again.
He further challenged the current leadership to explain why the textile mill has continued to decay despite years of warnings from workers and the successful revival initiatives being pursued in other states.
According to him, the land remains available, the infrastructure can be rebuilt and the workforce still exists.
"What is missing," Eshor said, "is the political will to transform an abandoned industrial landmark back into a thriving economic engine."
He added that reviving the Asaba Textile Mill is no longer simply about preserving history but about restoring jobs, dignity and hope for thousands of families across Delta State.