Taraku oil mills revival will create thousands of jobs, boost agriculture – Asemakaha

Henry Iyorkase, Makurdi

Benue State Government has reaffirmed its determination to revive the long-abandoned Taraku Oil Mills Factory in Gwer East Local Government Area, describing the facility as a critical asset capable of stimulating economic growth and creating thousands of jobs across the state.

Group Managing Director of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, gave the assurance on Friday during an inspection tour of the agro-processing facility, which has remained inactive since 2009.

Asemakaha said the state government, under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia, is committed to restoring the factory to full operation, noting that the facility, valued at over $50 million (about N70 billion), remains one of the state’s most strategic industrial assets.

He expressed surprise that despite years of abandonment, the factory’s equipment remained intact and in good condition.

“Looking at the machines, one could hardly believe that this facility has been inactive for years. The equipment still appears new, and we commend the community vigilantes and security personnel for protecting these assets from vandalism,” he said.

The BIPC boss disclosed that an asset audit is currently underway to ascertain the condition of the factory and determine the level of investment required to restart operations.

According to him, technical personnel who previously worked at the plant and possess adequate knowledge of its operations would be recalled to conduct test runs beginning next Monday.

“We are making conscious efforts to commence operations as quickly as possible. Reviving existing assets is more cost-effective than embarking on entirely new projects, and this administration is determined to make this facility functional again,” he said.

Asemakaha projected that the factory, once fully operational, could directly employ no fewer than 2,000 youths while creating numerous indirect jobs in farming, transportation, logistics and other related sectors.

He also announced plans by the government to immediately settle five months of outstanding allowances owed to security personnel guarding the facility as a way of appreciating their sacrifices in protecting the state asset.

“The government is poised to do everything humanly possible to ensure that the factory resumes operations because of its enormous potential to improve economic growth and create job opportunities for our youths and other able-bodied citizens,” he added.

Speaking during the inspection, a pioneer engineer of the company, Engr. James Ikuve gave an overview of the plant’s installed capacity and operations.

According to him, Taraku Oil Mills is an integrated agro-allied company designed to process various agricultural products and is divided into two major sections – the maize and feeds mill division and the oil division.

He explained that the maize feed plant has the capacity to process 120,000 tonnes of maize annually, while the feed mill can process 172,300 tonnes of animal feeds per year.

“The feeds produced here cater for all classes of animals. We have done it before, and it can still be done again,” he stated.

On the oil division, Ikuve disclosed that the plant consists of a preparatory unit, a solvent extraction plant and an oil refinery.

He explained that the facility has two flaking machines, each capable of processing up to 200 tonnes of soya beans per day, while the solvent extraction plant can process up to 320 tonnes of beans daily.

The refinery plant, according to him, has a daily processing capacity of 100 tonnes.

He further revealed that when the factory was operational, it achieved up to 75 per cent of its installed production capacity.

“The last production activity in the factory was carried out in 2013 under Growrich Resort Limited. Though production was minimal, it demonstrated that the facility remained viable,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Gwer East Local Government Area, Mr. Timothy Adi, commended Governor Hyacinth Alia and the BIPC management for initiating steps toward reviving the company.

“It appeared as though our leaders had stopped thinking about Taraku Mills until the coming of Governor Alia. Likewise, it seemed there was no BIPC until the emergence of Dr. Asemakaha. This is a welcome development, and we are ready to cooperate fully to ensure that this facility is brought back to life,” he said.

Also speaking, a resident and Commander of the Civil Protection Guard in Mbawegba, Uger Council Ward, Mr. Joseph Sough, expressed excitement over the renewed efforts to revive the factory.

“We, the residents, are very excited about the intensified efforts to bring this company back to life for the benefit of both the state and the host community,” he said.

The planned resuscitation of Taraku Oil Mills is expected to boost agricultural value chains, stimulate industrial activities and restore the factory’s position as one of Benue State’s major economic drivers.