RismadarVoice Reporters, August 9, 2026
The Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has expressed regret over the loss of the Taraku Mills, describing the collapse of the once-important industrial facility as unfortunate.
Alia made the remarks during a media parley at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, where he discussed his administration’s ongoing reforms, infrastructure projects and long-term development plans for the state.
The governor explained that the experience of Taraku Mills had highlighted the need for stronger structures to protect public assets and ensure that major economic projects remain productive over the long term. He said his administration was determined to prevent a repeat of the circumstances that led to the facility’s decline.
“It’s quite unfortunate that we have lost Taraku Mills.”
According to the governor, the original Taraku Mills suffered because public assets were not adequately protected and stakeholders failed to take collective responsibility for their sustainability. He noted that such an approach could undermine economic projects regardless of the resources initially invested in them.
Alia said efforts to revive the facility were therefore being anchored on stronger partnerships involving farmer cooperatives and private-sector interests. The arrangement, he explained, was intended to give those directly connected to the project a sense of ownership and responsibility for its continued success.
He also linked the revival of Taraku Mills to his administration’s broader economic agenda, which seeks to strengthen agriculture, create employment opportunities, support local production and improve the state’s industrial capacity.
The governor maintained that Benue could no longer afford to abandon important projects whenever there was a change in administration. He said his government was working on a 30-year development master plan to provide continuity and ensure that future administrations build on existing achievements rather than repeatedly starting from scratch.
Alia further stressed that sustainable development would require deliberate planning, proper management of public resources and cooperation between government, communities and private investors.
He expressed optimism that the measures introduced would help position Benue for stronger economic growth and prevent the abandonment of strategic projects such as Taraku Mills in the future.
