The Benue State government has announced plans to begin dry testing of the long abandoned Taraku Mills, as part of efforts to revitalize existing factories and pursue the industrialization target of the Alia administration. The disclosure was made during an asset audit tour of the plant aimed at assessing its readiness for a return to production.
The plan was disclosed by the Group Managing Director of the Benue Investment Property Company, Mr. Raymond Asimakaha, who led the audit tour alongside officials from the State Ministry of Industry, Trade and Commerce. The team inspected the facility to determine its current condition and what would be required to bring it back into operation.
Taraku Mills is one of the agro allied processing factories established in Benue State by the Aper Aku administration in the 1980s. The plant was abandoned in 2009 after production was shut down, and it has remained dormant for years, becoming one of several idle industrial assets the current administration now hopes to revive.
According to officials, the factory has a monthly production capacity of 297 metric tons of flour, animal feeds and vegetable oil. During the tour, the plant engineer outlined the production capacity of the mill and detailed the maintenance work that would be required to make it operational once again.
Much of the plant's machinery was found to be in good condition during the inspection. Equipment worth two billion naira supplied to the factory remains intact, with electric motors and installed equipment still in place, leaving room for key maintenance rather than a complete replacement of the production line.
Officials noted that, unlike other government assets that have been vandalized over the years, the Taraku facility had been preserved through the vigilance of the host community, which kept watch against vandalism and theft. Security personnel from the community said they would continue to protect the equipment and government facilities at the site.
The state government said reviving the mill is intended to create jobs and boost Benue's potential in food processing. Officials added that they would encourage stronger partnerships to promote enterprise and investment, presenting the planned dry testing as a first step toward restoring production at the dormant plant.