Italian Expatriates Return to BIPC Juice Factory Ahead of February Production Takeoff

By Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Italian expatriate engineers have returned to the Benval Fruit Juice Company, a subsidiary of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), as final preparations begin for the full commencement of production scheduled for February 2026.
The engineers are already on ground at the factory, where they have started testing and calibrating critical machinery to ensure peak performance ahead of the planned takeoff.

The renewed activities at the fruit juice plant align with the vision of Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia, to reduce post-harvest losses of oranges and mangoes in the state while strengthening agro-industrial development and value addition.
It will be recalled that in September last year, the company conducted a successful test run of the factory, producing its first batch of fruit juice. However, additional technical work became necessary to ensure the full integration, stabilization, and sustainability of the production systems before large-scale operations could begin.
Speaking through Engineer Boager, one of the Italian engineers currently at the facility, the expatriates confirmed that the machines are in sound working condition and are undergoing fine-tuning to meet the February production deadline set by the Group Managing Director (GMD), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha.
Engineer Boager also lauded Governor Alia for his foresight in reviving the factory and commended the GMD for effectively translating the vision into action, noting that the initiative will significantly benefit the people of Benue State, especially farmers and youths, through increased economic activities and job creation.