By Aloysius Umalo, Makurdi
Taraku Mills Limited in Benue State, North Central Nigeria has commenced test-run production following the completion of extensive rehabilitation of the facility and the delivery of about 300 tonnes of soyabeans to the factory.
The development marks a significant step in the Benue State Government’s efforts to revive dormant agro-industrial assets, strengthen the agricultural value chain and create employment opportunities for residents.
The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, disclosed this on Friday while speaking with journalists after monitoring the test-run production at the Taraku factory.
Asemakaha said BIPC had deliberately embarked on the rehabilitation of the facility, which had remained dormant for several years, with the objective of restoring production of Golden Soya Oil and creating a sustainable market for soybean farmers and other producers of agricultural raw materials.
He described the commencement of the test-run as a major milestone in the state’s agro-industrial revival, saying the factory would help expand the state’s industrial capacity while improving the livelihoods of farmers.
According to him, one of the major challenges confronting farmers in the state is lack of access to reliable markets for their produce, while unemployment remains a serious concern, particularly among young people.
He disclosed that tertiary institutions in Benue produced more than 14,802 graduates in 2024 and about 16,200 graduates in 2025, many of whom were still seeking employment opportunities.
The BIPC boss said the company was determined to ensure that Taraku Mills becomes fully operational and contributes meaningfully to employment generation and economic development.
He explained that BIPC was also working to change the approach to the management of government-owned enterprises, noting that merely handing public assets over without a clear commitment to operational performance had often resulted in such assets becoming burdens on government.
Asemakaha therefore urged soybean farmers, as well as producers and manufacturers of maize and other agricultural raw materials, to increase production, assuring them that BIPC was prepared to provide off-take opportunities for their products.
He said the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia was deliberately pursuing a policy of bringing industries and businesses closer to the people, stressing that both existing and newly introduced government enterprises must be made operational.
He disclosed that professionals were being engaged to manage the enterprises and ensure that they deliver measurable results.
“Those factories must work deliberately for the benefit of our people. A lot of people have asked why government is involved in these businesses. In China, there are hundreds of state-owned enterprises. Every province has state-owned enterprises operating on a model similar to BIPC. That is the model we are adopting.
“A state-owned enterprise is not just about sitting down and collecting salaries. It is about working and delivering results. That is why we are working the talk and bringing results. We have told our people to hold us to our word because we understand the business,” Asemakaha stated.
Speaking on the production process, the Plant Manager, Engr. James Terngu Ikuve, said the facility has an installed production capacity of 200 tonnes per day but would initially operate at 50 tonnes daily because the equipment had remained unused for several years.
Ikuve said the factory had commenced the purification process following the delivery of the 300 tonnes of soybeans, adding that crushing would begin within the next two days.
He explained that after the crushing process and the production of a reasonable quantity of crude oil, the facility would proceed to the refining stage to produce the Golden Soya Oil for the market.
The plant manager expressed optimism that the product would be available in the market before the end of October, assuring that the factory had adequate manpower to sustain the production process.
Also speaking, the Youth Leader of Taraku community, Comrade Iortuhwa Richard, commended Governor Alia for the rehabilitation and resuscitation of the factory, saying its return to production would bring economic benefits to the community.
Iortuhwa said members of the community had faced the challenge of protecting the facility and its equipment from vandalism during the years it remained dormant.
He, however, said the community resisted the temptation to destroy the equipment because of its potential benefits to the people.
“We encountered some challenges but we tried our best to overcome them and today, the factory has commenced production,” he said.
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