Follow Us on Google
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Taraku Mills Limited, located in the Gwer East Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, has officially commenced the first phase of its test production, marking a significant and historic step forward the revival of the once-dormant industrial facility.
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, who spoke during the exercise, described the test run as a crucial process toward bringing the long-moribund factory back to active life.
Asemakaha expressed profound appreciation to the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, for his unwavering commitment to reviving moribund industries across the state. According to him, the current state administration is fully determined to take charge of dormant industrial assets and restore them to productive use for the benefit of the citizenry. “We must take charge of moribund industries. We are ensuring that the dead balance sheet has come back to life,” he said.
Other News
The BIPC GMD explained that the ongoing test run was specifically aimed at ensuring Taraku Mills resumes full production and begins supplying locally produced vegetable oil directly to the people of Benue State. “Today’s exercise is done to ensure that our oil comes back before the end of this year, and I am assuring that the people of Benue will soon have the oil,” Asemakaha stated confidently.
He added that the successful revival of the factory would also create a ready and reliable market for agricultural produce, thereby significantly improving the economic value of crops produced by farmers throughout the state. “Very soon our farmers will have value for their crops, as can be seen in the orange market,” he said, noting with satisfaction that local farmers were already recording vastly improved returns from their agricultural produce.
The Plant Manager of Taraku Mills, James Terngu Ikyuve, disclosed that the factory had successfully received 300 metric tonnes of raw soybeans to kick off the test run.
He explained that the raw soybeans had already commenced the rigorous purification process, which would be systematically followed by mechanical crushing, high-efficiency oil extraction, and thorough refining.
