Tinubu commissions fruit juice concentrate plant in Benue

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

President Bola Tinubu has praised the value of the Bensono Fruit Processing Company Limited, a concentrate company established by the state government, saying the potential of the plant can only be imagined in the area of employment and foreign exchange.

President Tinubu, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila at the official commissioning ceremony, said the plant is a testament of Benue State status as the food basket of the nation.

The company is a landmark agro-processing investment aimed at boosting value addition, job creation, and industrial development in Benue State.

He lauded the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia for his developmental strides and encouraged him to continue to improve agriculture and industrialization of the State.

Alia, said the factory was set up to reduce post harvest losses of citrus including orange, mango, guava and other fruits.

He congratulated orchard owners in the state saying henceforth their produce would never go to waste adding that they would get value for their produce.

He said his government has made numerous strides in establishment of factories including the juice factory, beer factory, water and and bread factory among others and pledged to do more for the benefit of residents.

He urged residents to plant more oranges and other fruits saying the company serves as an already market for them.

The Group Managing Director of Benue Investment and Property Company BIPC, Dr Raymond Asemakaha explained that the strategic partnership between BIPC and Bensono Fruit Processing Company Limited, through the SONO Group, is a landmark initiative driven by the visionary leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

According to him, the collaboration driven by the company marks a significant step in the industrialization and economic transformation of Benue State.

He said: “It is designed to address the long-standing challenge of post-harvest losses by creating a sustainable value chain for the state’s abundant fruit produce. Through modern processing technology, fruits that would otherwise perish are converted into high-quality fruit concentrate for both domestic and international markets.

“The partnership will create employment opportunities across the agricultural and industrial value chains, improve the incomes of farmers by providing a reliable market for their produce, and stimulate private sector investment in agro-processing.

“It will also enhance Benue’s reputation as Nigeria’s food basket while positioning the state as a competitive player in the global fruit concentrate industry.”

Beyond its economic impact, Asemakaha said the BIPC-Bensono partnership demonstrates the Benue State Government’s commitment to leveraging strategic public-private partnerships to drive industrial growth, promote exports, reduce waste, and create lasting prosperity for the people of Benue State.

He pledged that the company would continue to support the state governor and actualize his dream and vision of industrializing the state before he leaves office.