Benue govt take steps to revive N70 billion Taraku mills industry
From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
In its bid to further boost industrialization, create jobs and expand markets for farmers across the state, Benue State Government hss intensified efforts to revive the moribund Taraku Mills Limited, an agro-processing facility that is worth N70 billion when fully operational.
Group Managing Director of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, made this known during an inspection tour of the facility in Taraku, Gwer East Local Government Area.
Dr Asemakaha maintained that the factory, which has remained largely stagnant and moribund since 2009, still retains most of its equipment in near-new condition despite years of inactivity.
He said the state government is currently conducting a comprehensive asset audit to determine the level of investment required to restore the plant to full operation.
Asemakaha commended the host community and security personnel for safeguarding the facility from vandalism, noting that unlike many abandoned public assets across the country, the Taraku Mills complex had remained largely intact.
He also, disclosed that technical experts, including former staff with institutional knowledge of the plant, would begin detailed assessments and dry-run tests to evaluate the functionality of the machinery and chart a path for its revival.
Speaking during the visit, pioneer mechanical engineer at the facility, Engineer James Ikuve, described Taraku Mills as a fully integrated agro-allied processing company with separate maize and feed mill and oil processing divisions.
He explained that the maize plant has the capacity to process 120,000 tonnes of maize annually, while the feed mill can produce 172,300 tonnes of animal feed per year.
Ikuve added that the oil division, includes soybean preparation, solvent extraction and refinery plants capable of processing hundreds of tonnes of soybeans daily.
According to him, the factory previously operated at about 75 percent of its installed capacity before production ceased in 2013 under the management of Growrich Resort Limited.
The BIPC GMD stressed that reviving the existing facility would be more cost-effective than constructing a new one, adding that the company would take maize and soybeans from farmers.
He projected that the plant could directly employ at least 2,000 youths while generating thousands of indirect jobs in farming, transportation, logistics and other supporting sectors.
Dr Asemakaha announced that government would immediately clear five months of outstanding allowances owed to security personnel in the facility.
Chairman of Gwer East local government area, Timothy Adi, lauded Governor Hyacinth Alia for prioritizing the revival of the factory, saying previous administrations had neglected the facility for years.
He said, “It was like our leaders stopped thinking after the days of Taraku Mills until the coming of His Excellency”, expressing optimism that the project would restore economic activities in the area.
Residents also expressed excitement over the planned reviva, with the Commander of the Civil Protection Guard in Mbawegba, Uger Council Ward, Joseph Sough, saying community members had worked closely with security operatives to protect the facility.
He said they remain encouraged by government’s commitment to bring the company back to life, thereby creating employment opportunities for youths and providing a reliable market for soybeans and maize farmers.
Similarly, Assistant Director and Head of Agro-Allied Industries in the state Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Emmanuel Atsia, described the development as a dream come true, recalling the economic benefits enjoyed when Taraku Mills was operational.
Atsia lamented the years of inactivity and expressed hope that the renewed efforts would succeed.
He, however, identified inadequate power supply and water as major challenges that need to be addressed for the factory to operate optimally.
