The Benue State Government has intensified efforts to revive moribund industries across the state, with the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) identifying the root causes of industrial decline as part of a broader strategy to rebuild the state’s economy, create jobs and attract private investment.

The Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr Raymond Asemakaha, disclosed this during an inspection of abandoned industrial assets in Benue South Senatorial District, led by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Sam Ode. The team visited the abandoned Igumale Cement Factory and the Otukpo Burnt Bricks project as part of the company’s ongoing industrial assessment.

Dr Asemakaha explained that the exercise forms part of BIPC’s Root Cause Analysis (RCA), designed to identify the underlying factors responsible for the collapse of industries and develop sustainable strategies for their revival.

He identified policy inconsistency, lack of continuity in government programmes, inadequate private-sector investment and public-private partnerships, poor infrastructure, weak value chains and the collapse of state-owned enterprises as major factors contributing to the decline of Benue’s industrial sector.

The BIPC chief expressed concern that industrial productivity had declined significantly despite the state’s population growing from approximately 2.5 million during the administration of the late Governor Aper Aku to more than seven million.

He recalled that Benue once sustained a vibrant industrial base comprising enterprises such as Benue Brewery, Taraku Mills, Benro Packaging, Lobi Bank, fertiliser plants, Benue Bottling Company Limited, Flour Mills Makurdi, Benue Cement, Modern Market, Ber-Agbum Fish Farm, Zaki Biam Yam Flour, Makurdi Sheraton Hotel and Ikyogen Cattle Ranch. However, many of these enterprises have since collapsed or become inactive.

Dr Asemakaha said the administration of Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia is committed to reversing the trend through the systematic assessment and revitalisation of abandoned industries, revival of the Aku industrial model, development of industrial clusters, intensified investment promotion, value-chain development and investment in human capital.

He stressed that reviving dormant industries would restore employment opportunities, reduce dependence on government, diversify the state’s economy and promote the processing of agricultural produce into higher-value products.

“For every dormant industry, jobs are taken away. Our methodology is simple: revive industries, create jobs, reduce overdependence on government, diversify the economy and add value to our agricultural produce,” he said.

He reaffirmed BIPC’s commitment to building a resilient and sustainable economy driven by a strong private sector, with manufacturing serving as a major catalyst for industrial growth, job creation and economic diversification.

The ongoing assessment represents a strategic step towards identifying viable pathways for restoring Benue’s industrial assets, strengthening productive capacity and positioning the state for sustainable economic growth.

Moses Dughdugh

Information Officer