GOV ALIA INSPECTS BENSONO CONCENTRATE FACTORY, BENVA JUICE FACTORY, BIPC MOTORCYCLE ASSEMBLY PLANT AHEAD OF OFFICAL COMMISSIONING

Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, on Wednesday inspected the Bensono Concentrate Plant, Benva Juice Factory, and the Motorcycle Assembly Plant in Makurdi, expressing satisfaction with the level of completion and readiness of the facilities ahead of their official commissioning.

The governor, accompanied by the Speaker of the 10th Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aondoaver Emberga, described the projects as major milestones in the state's industrialisation drive and efforts to transform Benue from a predominantly agrarian economy into a hub for agro-processing and manufacturing.

Speaking during the inspection tour, Governor Alia commended the management of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), particularly its Group Managing Director, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, CFA, for delivering the projects within record time.

"It is exciting to hear and see that the companies are ready for commissioning. This fourth year is our year of commissioning, and I am hopeful that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will graciously come and commission these projects for us. Very soon, we shall begin commissioning all the projects embarked upon by this administration," the governor stated.

Governor Alia noted that the establishment of the Bensono Concentrate Plant and Benva Juice Factory would significantly reduce post-harvest losses, a challenge that has long affected fruit farmers across the state.

According to him, the factories will provide a ready market for locally produced fruits, improve farmers' incomes, and stimulate economic activities across the agricultural value chain.

"Our farmers have suffered greatly over the years. Almost every family has an orchard farm, but buyers often come from outside the state and dictate prices that do not reflect the true value of the farmers' hard work. These factories will change that narrative," he said.

He urged farmers to increase production in anticipation of the factories' operations, assuring them that the state government was committed to creating sustainable markets for their produce.

"Buyers can still purchase our oranges, but the process will now be more controlled and beneficial to our people. Whether through concentrates or juice production, the value will remain within the state. It is a win-win situation for our farmers and the economy of Benue State," the governor added.

The governor also inspected 525 motorcycles assembled by the company under a partnership arrangement between the Benue State Government and a Chinese firm. The partnership was initiated during Governor Alia's investment mission to the People's Republic of China in 2024.

Earlier, the Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, explained that the agro-processing factories were established to create value from Benue's abundant agricultural produce, particularly oranges, mangoes, and tomatoes.

He said the projects were designed to tackle the persistent challenge of post-harvest losses while creating jobs and generating revenue for the state.

"We want to add value to what our farmers produce and drastically reduce the post-harvest losses that have been witnessed in Benue State for decades. Economic growth must be inclusive, and these projects are built around an inclusive model that directly benefits farmers," Asemakaha said.

The BIPC GMD disclosed that both factories were fully completed and ready to commence production immediately after commissioning.

"Our factories are ready. We are only awaiting the official commissioning. Once that is done, full production will commence. We believe these facilities will change the economic landscape of Benue State," he stated.

Asemakaha lamented that for many years Benue farmers had produced raw agricultural commodities that were transported out of the state, creating wealth and jobs elsewhere.

"For years, our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters have laboured to grow produce that others use to build their economies and industries. We are determined to stop that trend by ensuring that value addition takes place here in Benue," he said.

He further revealed that the orange concentrate to be produced at the Benfruits plant would target both local and international markets.

Citing raw materials council data, Asemakaha noted that Nigeria spent approximately ₦68 billion importing fruit concentrates in 2025 despite having abundant raw materials.

"The Raw Materials Research and Development Council has indicated that Nigeria imported about ₦68 billion worth of concentrates in 2025. We have the oranges here in Benue. There is no reason we should continue importing what we can produce locally. Our goal is to substitute imports and eventually export our concentrates to the international market," he explained.

He expressed confidence that the factories would position Benue as a leading producer of fruit concentrates and processed beverages in Nigeria while creating employment opportunities for thousands of residents.

The projects form part of Governor Alia's industrialisation and investment agenda aimed at boosting local production, creating jobs, increasing internally generated revenue, and unlocking the state's vast agricultural potential.