By Elizabeth Achagh
The leadership of the Benue State House of Assembly has commended the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, BIPC for its commitment to advancing the industrialization agenda of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The lawmakers gave the commendation after a tour of key BIPC facilities, including Benfruits, Benval, the BIPC Eco-City Estate, and Food Basket Brewery.
The delegation, led by the Majority Leader, Mr. Thomas Dugeri, praised the Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, as well as the management and staff for their role in transforming the state’s economic landscape.
Mr. Dugeri sued for adequate Government to funding to enable the company to deliver more effectively on the governor’s strategic economic direction and pledged sustained legislative collaboration to support BIPC’s initiatives, including efforts to recover the Benue Hotel, Sheraton hotel, revive the JS Tarka Foundation, and enact enabling laws.
Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Mathew Damkor, lauded the current management for its initiatives and expressed satisfaction with the quality of ongoing work at the Eco-City Estate and assured continued legislative support.
The BIPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Asemakaha, who disclosed that the company has initiated several ventures, including bread production, water packaging, nail manufacturing, a printing press, and electric taxi services to stimulate economic activities, presented a detailed report on the company’s progress and challenges, urging the Assembly to provide the necessary backing.
He further explained that, with support from the state government, BIPC has built a brewery and Benva Juice factory and revived Benfruits, noting that the projects are expected to be commissioned next month.
According to Dr. Asemakaha, the three factories to be commissioned can employ over 1,500 people, with secondary market opportunities anticipated once the fruit juice factories become operational.
The BIPC Group Managing Director appealed to the Assembly to fast-track legislation establishing a Benue Commodity Exchange, which he said would regulate the agro-market, stabilise prices, and ensure farmers receive fair value for their produce.
On the Benue Hotel, he revealed that BIPC will soon issue a 90-day ultimatum to the lessee of the hotel and other government assets currently not performing and they are holding them for economic sabotage, stressing that lessee should fully utilise the facility or risk revocation.
Earlier, the Head of Business Development and Strategy at BIPC, Theresa Abeda, thanked the Assembly for the visit and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to continued collaboration for the overall development of the state.
Edited By Terna Injua
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