Egypt Partners Benue to Revive Nigerian Grain Factory

A factory that once processed soybeans, groundnuts, and maize in Nigeria is coming back to life after years of sitting empty.

The Benue State Government partnered with Egyptian engineering firm Al Wadi Al Akhdar Oil Mills to restart operations at Taraku Mills, a facility in Gwer East Local Government Area. Engineers visited the site this week and found the factory in better shape than expected.

Saleh Mansury, who led the Egyptian inspection team, rated the facility 75% ready for full production. Only minor upgrades to the boiler and solvent machine are needed to bring operations up to modern standards, which will also cut energy costs.

"We are prepared to move into full-scale production once the identified upgrades are completed," Mansury said during the site visit. The team plans to add new production lines, including equipment for making animal feed cakes.

The revival brings a clear message to Benue farmers: start planting. Mansury urged local growers to ramp up cultivation of soybeans, groundnuts, and maize since these crops fuel the factory's operations.

James Emmanuel, a local engineer who joined the assessment, confirmed the facility could operate at full capacity once the boiler and solvent sections receive their upgrades. The Benue Investment and Property Company is overseeing the project through Managing Director Dr. Raymond Asemakaha.

The Ripple Effect

Restarting Taraku Mills does more than just process crops. It creates a market for local farmers, guaranteeing buyers for their harvests and potentially raising incomes across the region. Factory jobs will return to the area, and the animal feed production could support livestock farmers throughout Nigeria.

The partnership shows how international collaboration can breathe new life into local industries that communities depend on. When factories close, entire regional economies suffer. When they reopen, the benefits spread quickly.

One dormant factory in Benue State is about to wake up and feed opportunity back into its community.