President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Saturday commissioned the 40,000-metric-tonne Bensono Fruits Processing Company Limited in Makurdi
President Tinubu, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, said the project aligned with the federal government’s commitment to transforming agriculture through processing and industrial development.
Tinubu said the facility would create thousands of jobs, stimulate economic activities, increase foreign exchange earnings and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported fruit concentrate.
Earlier, Governor Hyacinth Alia had said the plant would reduce post-harvest losses, provide a ready market for farmers and serve both domestic and international markets.
The governor added that the concentrate plant, alongside the fruit juice factory and Food Basket Brewery, formed part of his administration’s industrialisation agenda aimed at strengthening the state’s economy and creating employment opportunities.
Managing Director of the Benue Investment and Property Company, Raymond Asemakaha, said the facility would significantly reduce fruit waste, produce organic fertiliser from its by-products and help cut Nigeria’s reliance on imported fruit concentrate.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by prominent dignitaries, including former Benue state Governor Gabriel Suswam, elder statesman, Barnabas Gemade, traditional rulers, investors and other stakeholders.