GOV. ALIA INSPECTS TARAKU MILLS UNDERGOING REVITALIZATION BY BIPC, EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH PROGRESS

Governor Hyacinth Alia has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing rehabilitation of Taraku Mills, describing the progress made on the state-owned facility as encouraging and in line with the timeline for the commencement of production.

The governor made the remarks after inspecting the mill, which is being revitalized by the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), as part of the state government's industrialisation drive.

The Governor said the maintenance work had reached an impressive stage and urged farmers across Benue State, particularly those cultivating soybeans, maize and groundnuts, to increase production in preparation for supplying the factory with adequate raw materials throughout the year once test-running is completed and full operations begin.

He explained that the revival of Taraku Mills would create a strong value chain around soybeans and maize, stimulate agricultural production, create employment opportunities and further strengthen the state's economy.

The governor also noted that Benue's economy has continued to witness significant improvement through the reforms introduced by the Federal Government and his administration over the past three years.

Governor Alia commended the team of engineers handling the rehabilitation for their dedication and professionalism, while appreciating the people of Taraku for protecting the factory from vandalism and theft during the years it remained dormant.

He described members of the host community as disciplined, responsible and committed to the success of the project.

Earlier, the lead engineer supervising the rehabilitation, Engr. James Ikyurve, informed the governor that the maintenance exercise was nearing completion and assured him that the timeline set for the commencement of production would be achieved.

Ikyurve thanked Governor Alia for personally inspecting the facility and praised the administration's decision to revive Taraku Mills, describing the project as a major milestone in the industrial and economic transformation of Benue State.

During the inspection, several rehabilitated machines were powered on and demonstrated to Governor Alia and members of his delegation, showcasing the significant progress made towards restoring the factory to full operational capacity.

The revival of Taraku Mills by BIPC is expected to boost agro-industrial development, create jobs, expand market opportunities for farmers and contribute to the economic growth of Benue State.