Benue Seals N25 Billion Deal with Firm to Boost Agriculture and Create Jobs

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has signed a landmark N25 billion investment agreement between the Benue State Agricultural Development Company Limited (BSADC) and Benue-AgrPro Limited to expand commercial agriculture and generate employment opportunities in the state.

The Business-to-Business Memorandum of Agreement focuses on large-scale soybean production, irrigation farming, integrated agriculture, research, vocational training, and out-grower development programmes. Speaking through Deputy Governor Barr. Dr. Sam Ode at the signing ceremony held at Government House, Makurdi, Governor Alia reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to transparency, accountability, and investor-friendly policies.

The project is expected to commence in Mbatiev, Buruku Local Government Area, through a Special Purpose Vehicle established under the state’s Public-Private Indigenous Partnership framework. BSADC Managing Director, Mr. Donald Aorkwagh Akule, highlighted that the initiative will complement the ongoing revitalization of Taraku Mills and enhance value addition in the agricultural sector.

Benue-AgrPro Managing Director, Ahmed Saalim Abubakar, described the partnership as a defining moment for agriculture in Benue State. He pledged the company’s commitment to delivering the project with integrity, professionalism, and transparency.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Benjamin Ashaver, assured investors of the state government’s full institutional support. He noted that the project site is government-owned land and emphasized that the initiative would help minimize post-harvest losses, enhance value addition, and strengthen the state’s agricultural value chain.

This major investment aligns with Governor Alia’s broader vision to reposition Benue as Nigeria’s foremost agribusiness hub, leveraging the state’s rich agricultural potential to drive economic growth, food security, and job creation for residents.