The Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has announced plans to revive the historic Taraku Mills, a multi-billion-naira agro-processing facility located in Gwer East Local Government Area, as part of his administration’s drive toward industrial and economic transformation in the state.
This significant development was revealed during an inspection visit to the factory by the Managing Director of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, who led a team to assess the facility ahead of rehabilitation works scheduled to commence next week.
According to Dr. Asemakaha, Taraku Mills last operated in 2013 under the management of Growrich Limited, where it achieved approximately 75 percent production capacity before operations ceased. He commended the host community for preserving the facility, noting that critical infrastructure such as electrical cables and major production components remained largely intact and free from vandalism. Engineers are set to immediately begin technical assessments and dry-run tests to determine the extent of repairs, upgrades, and modernization required.
The revival of Taraku Mills, originally established during the administration of late Governor Aper Aku, is expected to process groundnut oil, soybean oil, and animal feed, with substantial production capacities. The project aligns with Governor Alia’s vision of repositioning Benue as Nigeria’s food basket through agro-industrial processing, value-chain development, job creation, and economic empowerment.
Stakeholders view the initiative as a bold step toward restoring the state’s industrial heritage, empowering farmers, generating employment for thousands of youths, and boosting internally generated revenue. As rehabilitation efforts begin, the revival of Taraku Mills is anticipated to play a major role in strengthening local production, reducing dependence on imports, and fostering sustainable livelihoods across Benue State.
