The Benue State Government has commenced efforts to revive the long-dormant Taraku Oil Mill, a once-thriving agro-processing facility valued at approximately $50 million, as part of its strategy to boost agricultural industrialisation, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth in the state.
According to state officials, the revitalisation initiative is aimed at restoring the mill to full operational capacity through strategic investment and public-private partnerships. The government believes reopening the facility will strengthen Benue’s agro-industrial value chain, particularly in the processing of oil palm and other agricultural produce.
Originally established to support agricultural processing and industrial development, the Taraku Oil Mill has remained largely inactive for years, limiting its contribution to employment, local manufacturing, and value addition within Benue State. The revival project is expected to reverse this trend by attracting new investments into the state’s agro-processing sector.
The state government said rehabilitating the facility aligns with its broader agenda of revitalising dormant public assets, promoting industrial production, and reducing dependence on raw agricultural exports. Officials noted that increasing local processing capacity would enable farmers to earn more value from their produce while strengthening food and industrial supply chains.
Beyond supporting agricultural production, the revived oil mill is expected to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities across farming, logistics, manufacturing, packaging, and distribution. Industry observers believe the project could also encourage greater private-sector participation in Benue’s agricultural economy.
Analysts say the initiative reflects a growing trend among Nigerian states to rehabilitate abandoned industrial assets rather than develop entirely new facilities, allowing governments to leverage existing infrastructure to accelerate economic development and improve returns on past public investments.
If successfully completed, the Taraku Oil Mill could once again become a major agro-processing hub in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, supporting value addition, increasing internally generated revenue, and enhancing the competitiveness of Benue’s agricultural sector.
