President Bola Tinubu on Saturday commissioned the 40,000-metric-ton-per-day Benfruit Concentrate Plant in Makurdi.

Tinubu described the project as a major boost to Nigeria’s agricultural processing and industrialisation drive.

The plant, owned by Bensono Fruits Processing Company Limited, was inaugurated as part of activities marking Benue State’s 50th anniversary.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the President said the facility aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming agriculture through value addition and industrial development.

He said the plant’s processing capacity would create thousands of jobs, stimulate economic activities, boost foreign exchange earnings and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported fruit concentrate.

The President commended the Benue State government and the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC) for driving industrial development in the state and urged residents to continue supporting Governor Hyacinth Alia’s efforts to reposition Benue as an industrial hub.

Earlier, Governor Hyacinth Alia said the concentrate plant would help address the long-standing challenge of post-harvest losses by providing a ready market for fruits produced across the state.

He said the factory’s products would serve both local and international markets, adding that the project was one of several industries completed by his administration within the last three years.

The governor listed the Benfruit Concentrate Plant, the fruit juice factory and the Food Basket Brewery among key industrial projects delivered, noting that they would strengthen the state’s economy, improve the livelihoods of orchard farmers and create employment opportunities for youths.

Alia commended the Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, the board and staff of the company for their commitment to completing the project, assuring the people that more developmental projects would be delivered.

Earlier, Asemakaha said the plant would significantly reduce post-harvest fruit losses while supplying the local market and producing fruit concentrate for export.

He disclosed that Nigeria spent about $68 billion on imported fruit concentrate in the past year, expressing confidence that the new factory would substantially reduce the country’s import dependence.

He said that, the facility is one of the largest and most modern concentrate plants in West Africa, with a processing capacity of 40,000 metric tons per day.

Asemakaha added that while the concentrate would be used for juice production, the by-products would be converted into organic fertiliser to ensure zero waste.

He thanked Governor Alia for reviving a project that had remained dormant for more than 18 years. (Daily Trust)

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