Benue: Tinubu commissions Bensono fruit plant to stimulate industrial growth

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday commissioned the 40,000 tonne Bensono Fruits Processing Company Limited in Makurdi

President Tinubu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, said the project is in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to transform agriculture through industrial processing and development.

Tinubu said the plant will create thousands of jobs, stimulate economic activities, increase foreign exchange earnings and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported fruit concentrates.

Earlier, Governor Hyacinth Alia 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, along with the fruit juice factory and Food Basket brewery, were part of his administration’s industrialization program aimed at strengthening the state’s economy and creating job opportunities.

The Chief Executive Officer of Benue Investment and Property Company, Raymond Asemakaha, said the plant would significantly reduce fruit wastage, produce organic fertilizers from its by-products and help reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported fruit concentrates.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by eminent dignitaries, including former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, elder statesman Barnabas Gemade, traditional rulers, investors and other stakeholders.