Taraku Mills Nears Revival, First Plant Set for Test Run in 35 Days

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Foreign expatriates and technicians engaged by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) have commenced work on the Taraku Mills as part of ongoing efforts to restore the long-abandoned factory to full production.

The Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, alongside the company’s management team, led the engineers on an inspection tour, where they expressed satisfaction with the pace of the rehabilitation and assured that the facility would soon resume operations.
Asemakaha explained that following the commencement of maintenance work, expatriates and technicians were brought in to handle the critical aspects of the rehabilitation process.
According to the GMD, Taraku Mills, a major agro-industrial processing plant, has remained moribund since 2013.
He expressed confidence that once fully operational, the factory would process soybeans, maize, beniseed, and cassava into finished products.
He added that the plant is also expected to produce edible oil, beer grits for use at the Food Basket Brewery, animal feed, and other industrial raw materials.
The BIPC boss urged farmers across Benue State to increase the cultivation of soybeans to ensure a steady supply of raw materials when production resumes.
He reiterated that the revival of Taraku Mills aligns with the vision of Governor Hyacinth Alia to restore moribund industries and stimulate economic growth in Benue State.
Speaking on behalf of the expatriates and technicians, Adilson Neres Da Silva and Henry Boager expressed optimism about the condition of the facility, noting that despite years of inactivity, most of the plant’s components remain intact.
They disclosed that the company is targeting a test run of the first plant within the next 30 to 35 days, adding that the equipment, programmable logic systems, power plant, water plant, and other components required to reactivate the plant’s software are all in good condition.
The District Head of Mbaweghgba, Chief John Igbabul, commended Governor Alia for taking concrete steps to revive the factory, expressing confidence that the project would create jobs and boost economic activities in the area.