By Aloysius Umalo, Makurdi
The Group Managing Director of Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, has expressed satisfaction with the progress of rehabilitation work at the long-abandoned Taraku Mills Company, assuring that production would commence soon.
Asemakaha stated this when he led a team of BIPC officials on an inspection tour of the company to ascertain the level of work done on the facility, which had remained largely abandoned and neglected by successive administrations for decades.
The GMD said the quality and speed of work at the facility had given the company confidence that Taraku Mills would soon return to production, stressing that BIPC had assembled competent professionals to handle the rehabilitation.
He disclosed that, following a request by the technical team, BIPC would immediately supply one truckload of soybeans to enable the company commence the purification process and test-run its production lines.
He said the target was to ensure that Taraku Mills soy oil would be available in the market by the next festive season.
According to him, the revival of Taraku Mills was part of the commitment of the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia to deliver tangible results to the people of Benue State.
He recalled that when the rehabilitation commenced, some people dismissed it as a political campaign, but stressed that the present administration was determined to demonstrate its commitment through actual delivery.
Asemakaha said the equipment installed at the company remained in good condition despite years of inactivity, noting that their total utilisation since manufacture was less than five years.
He put the value of assets at Taraku Mills at over N70 billion, describing their revival as an important step towards unlocking the economic potential of the state.
He further disclosed that the company would initially be managed by a team of experts before the introduction of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
He noted that the immediate priority was to put in place a competent management team with the technical and managerial capacity to operate the facility efficiently.
The GMD also said the host Community would benefit from the revival of the company through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, including arrangements that would guarantee the offtake of soybeans produced by farmers in the Community.
He encouraged farmers across Benue to increase soybean production, assuring them of a ready market for their produce.
He also urged farmers to take advantage of dry-season farming to boost soybean production and ensure a steady supply of raw materials to the mill throughout the year.
The Plant Maintenance Manager, Engineer James Terngu Ikuve, said about 90 per cent of the rehabilitation and overhaul of the plant had been completed, adding that the facility would commence production as soon as adequate raw materials were supplied.
Ikuve explained that production would commence in phases, beginning with the purification process, and expressed confidence that the revival of the facility would restore Taraku Mills to its former status while providing Nigerians with locally produced Golden Soy Oil.
Also speaking, Lead Consultant Saleh Mansur said the company was technically ready to commence production, having achieved more than 90 per cent completion in the overhaul of the facility.
Mansur said the management was currently awaiting the supply of raw materials to begin test-running the production lines, and called on farmers to increase soybean and groundnut production and commence harvesting for immediate supply to Taraku Mills.
