Tinubu Launches 40,000-Tonne Benue Concentrate Plant

On [exact date not provided], President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated a 40,000-tonne concentrate plant owned by Benfruit Concentrate Plant in Benue State. This project is part of the state's 50th anniversary celebrations and represents a significant advancement in Nigeria's agricultural processing and industrialization drive.

Tinubu emphasized the plant's potential to create thousands of jobs, stimulate economic activity, and enhance foreign exchange earnings while reducing Nigeria's dependence on imported fruit concentrates. He commended the Benue State Government, led by Governor Hyacinth Alia, for their investment in the project and urged residents to support the governor's efforts in establishing Benue as an industrial hub.

The plant is expected to address post-harvest losses and provide a ready market for fruit producers in the state. Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, Managing Director of BIPC, assured that the project would significantly reduce post-harvest fruit loss and supply local markets, with Nigeria having spent $68 billion on fruit concentrate imports in the past year.