Benue Govt Begins Fresh Drive To Restore Taraku Mills, Targets Jobs, Agro-Industrial Growth

By Amos Aar

The Benue State Government has begun a fresh push to revive the long-abandoned Taraku Mills Limited, with officials of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC) leading a comprehensive assessment of the facility as part of efforts to restore production, create jobs and boost agro-industrial growth.

The exercise, carried out on Friday, involved officials of BIPC, engineers and representatives of the Benue State Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, who toured the facility to evaluate the condition of its machinery, buildings and production infrastructure after years of inactivity.

Speaking after the inspection, the Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, described the asset audit as a critical first step towards determining the technical and financial requirements for reviving the factory.

According to him, preliminary observations indicate that the core production equipment and supporting infrastructure remain largely intact despite the prolonged shutdown of the company.

He explained that the outcome of the inspection would guide plans to conduct dry-run tests on the equipment before full-scale production resumes.

Asemakaha expressed confidence that the factory could be restored within a reasonable period, noting that the inspection had revealed encouraging prospects for rehabilitation.

He said the planned revival of Taraku Mills aligns with the Benue State Government’s economic agenda of rebuilding moribund industries, expanding employment opportunities and strengthening internally generated revenue.

The BIPC chief described Taraku Mills as one of the state’s strategic industrial assets, estimating its current value at more than N50 billion and stressing that restoring its operations would significantly benefit Benue’s agricultural economy.

He noted that the factory’s return would create a dependable market for farmers by processing locally produced agricultural commodities and adding value to raw materials before they reach consumers.

Asemakaha also praised residents of the host community for preserving the facility throughout its years of abandonment. According to him, the community’s vigilance prevented the vandalization of equipment and protected spare parts worth billions of naira, making the rehabilitation project less costly than expected.

He described the community’s commitment as a clear indication of its desire to see industrial activities return to the area.

As part of the visit, the BIPC management settled five months of outstanding allowances owed to security personnel responsible for guarding the facility.

Providing an overview of the factory’s production capacity, the Maintenance Officer of Taraku Mills, Engr. James Terngu Ikuve, said the integrated agro-processing complex comprises maize processing, animal feed production and vegetable oil processing units.

He disclosed that the maize section is capable of processing about 120,000 metric tonnes annually, while the feed mill has an installed annual production capacity of approximately 172,300 metric tonnes. He added that the oil processing section includes soybean preparation, extraction and refining facilities designed to process large volumes of produce.

Ikuve recalled that commercial operations at the plant ceased in 2013 under the management of Growrich Resort Limited after the factory had attained about 75 per cent of its installed production capacity.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Gwer East Local Government Area, Mr. Adi Nyiakura, who joined the inspection team, welcomed the initiative and commended the Benue State Government for prioritising the revival of abandoned industries.

He assured BIPC of the local government’s cooperation, saying the reopening of Taraku Mills would stimulate economic activities, generate employment and improve livelihoods in the area.

Community representatives who witnessed the inspection also expressed optimism that the project would restore commercial activities that declined following the closure of the factory many years ago.

They appealed to the government and prospective operators to give priority to qualified indigenes during recruitment when production resumes.

Established as one of Benue’s flagship agro-industrial projects, Taraku Mills was designed to process soybeans, maize and other agricultural products into edible oil, flour and animal feed.

Industry stakeholders believe revival of the Taraku Mills could once again position the state as a major hub for agro-processing while creating new opportunities for farmers, transporters and other businesses across the agricultural value chain.