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The Benue State Government has initiated steps to resuscitate the long-dormant Wadata Briquetting Factory in Makurdi, aiming to unlock job creation, promote clean energy alternatives, and demonstrate productive reuse of idle state assets.
A recent joint inspection of the facility was conducted by officials from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare and the Benue State Council on Climate Change, under the directive of the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Mrs. Theresesa Odachi Ikwue. Leading the assessment were the Director of Women Affairs, Mrs. Magdalene Andor, and Dr. Daniel Maailumo of the Climate Change Council.
The team evaluated the factory’s structural integrity and production systems, concluding that while the main buildings remain largely intact and serviceable, the machinery, technical units, and overall operational infrastructure require extensive rehabilitation and a comprehensive technical audit before full reactivation can occur.
Despite its current state of disuse, the facility was recognized as holding significant potential to contribute to socio-economic development. The inspection report highlighted opportunities to generate employment specifically for women and youths, facilitate skills training programs, support small-scale enterprises, and drive local economic activity.
The factory is also positioned to advance environmental goals by producing briquettes from agricultural waste such as rice husks and biomass. These briquettes would serve as cleaner, more sustainable alternatives to traditional firewood and charcoal, helping to curb deforestation, reduce indoor air pollution, and lower harmful emissions in households and communities.
The assessment team recommended the immediate formation of a Technical Task Force to oversee rehabilitation efforts and advised engaging private sector partners to ensure long-term operational sustainability and viability.
The revival initiative aligns with Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s broader policy thrust toward pragmatic governance, economic inclusion, environmental responsibility, and the strategic repurposing of abandoned state-owned facilities as engines of inclusive growth and sustainable industrial development.
The Wadata Briquetting Factory, once operational, is expected to become a model project demonstrating how idle public infrastructure can be transformed into sources of employment, green energy solutions, and community-level economic empowerment in Benue State. Further updates on the rehabilitation timeline and partnership arrangements are anticipated as technical assessments progress.
