Benue State officials say they will restore the dormant agro-processing complex known as Taraku Mills Limited after an inspection of the site in Taraku, Gwer East LGA. Dr Raymond Asemakaha, managing director of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), reported the facility is valued at over $50 million (about N70 billion) and has been inactive since 2009, but retains much of its equipment in near-new condition.

Technical details cited during the inspection state the plant includes a maize processing line rated at 120,000 tonnes per year and an animal feed mill with 172,300 tonnes per year of installed capacity. The oil-processing division comprises soybean preparation, solvent extraction and refinery units described as capable of handling hundreds of tonnes of soybeans daily. The site last operated at roughly 75% of installed capacity before production stopped in 2013 under management by Growrich Resort Limited.

Benue authorities have launched a comprehensive asset audit to quantify the investment needed to recommission the plant. Dr Asemakaha said technical specialists, including former employees familiar with the machinery, will carry out detailed assessments and dry-run tests to establish functionality and a path to restart, and he praised the local community and security personnel for protecting the facility from vandalism.