Follow Us on Google
The Benue State Government, through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), has continued its audit of moribund industries across the state, with the Group Managing Director, Dr Raymond Asemakaha, saying the initiative is addressing the root causes of industrial decline as a pathway to sustainable economic development.
Speaking during an inspection of abandoned industrial assets in Benue South Senatorial District, Dr Asemakaha said the exercise forms part of BIPC’s Root Cause Analysis (RCA), aimed at identifying and addressing the factors responsible for the collapse of industries in the state.
The inspection team, led by the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Barr. Sam Ode, visited the abandoned Igumale Cement Factory and the Otukpo Burnt Bricks project as part of the ongoing assessment.
According to Dr Asemakaha, the RCA identified policy inconsistency, a lack of continuity in government programmes, the collapse of state-owned enterprises, inadequate private sector investment and public-private partnerships, poor infrastructure, and weak value chains as the major factors behind the decline of Benue’s industrial sector.
He noted that, despite the state’s population increasing from about 2.5 million during the administration of the late Governor Aper Aku to more than 7 million today, industrial productivity has declined significantly.
Dr Asemakaha recalled that Benue once hosted thriving industries such as Benue Brewery, Taraku Mills, Benro Packaging, Lobi Bank, fertiliser plants, Benue Bottling Company Limited, Flour Mills Makurdi, Benue Cement, Modern Market, Ber-Agbum Fish Farm, Zaki Biam Yam Flour, Makurdi Sheraton Hotel and Ikyogen Cattle Ranch, but lamented that many of them have either collapsed or become moribund.
He said the administration of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is determined to reverse the trend through the audit and revitalisation of abandoned industries, the revival of the Aku industrial model, the development of industrial clusters, aggressive investment promotion, value-chain development and human capital investment.
“For every dormant industry, jobs are taken away. Our methodology is simple, revive industries, create jobs, reduce overdependence on government, diversify the economy and add value to our agricultural produce.
“We pledge to build a resilient and sustainable economy by ushering in a resistant private sector driven with manufacturing positioned as a major catalyst for industrial growth, job creation, economic diversification and sustainability.”
“Our strategy is Holds a 35% equity share through state participation, ensuring alignment with national industrialization and job creation goals.while private investors take lead,” he said.
Other News
During the inspection, the BIPC boss also directed the immediate resumption of work at the Igumale Cement Factory and renewed the state’s invitation to the Chinese firm, Zhengzhou Cangxi Industry and Commerce Development Company Ltd, to return and complete the installation of the long-abandoned cement plant.
He assured the company that the Benue State Government would facilitate the completion of the outstanding Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and mining lease documentation required for the project to resume operations.
Benue State Deputy Governor, Barr. Sam Ode, mni, said the inspection was in line with Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s directive to assess abandoned industries in Benue South with a view to restoring them to full operation.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to revitalising moribund industries as a strategy for stimulating economic growth and improving the livelihoods of the people.
The Director of Industry in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and Desk Officer for the project, Mrs Mbamilin Yandev, disclosed that the Benue State Government and the Chinese company commenced the installation of the Igumale Cement Factory in 2001.
According to her, both parties secured an US$80 million facility from the Chinese Government under a seven-year Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement.
She explained that the last communication between the state government and the company was in 2017, when the Chinese firm requested the completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment and mining lease before continuing with the project. However, the process was not concluded at the time.
The Chairman of Ado Local Government Area, Engr. Sunny Oche, APC senatorial candidate Francis Agbo, and House of Representatives candidate Anthony Agom commended Governor Alia for taking concrete steps to revive the abandoned cement factory.
The delegation also inspected the Otukpo Burnt Bricks factory, established during the administration of the late Aper Aku in the 1980s, where the GMD ordered the commencement of rehabilitation.
