By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Mr. Raymond Asemakaha, says the company under his leadership has taken deliberate steps to diversify and redirect the state’s economy through macro businesses.
Mr. Asemakaha, an economic expert, disclosed this while presenting his scorecard at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Makurdi. He emphasized that Benue’s economy must be revived to ensure residents derive real value for their money.
According to him, BIPC has established several macro enterprises, including a bread factory, water factory, fertilizer plant, and a brewery. These ventures currently employ 580 people directly, while an additional 380 indigenes have benefited through indirect jobs.
“We are driving the economy because Benue has a peculiar problem,” Asemakaha said. “If not for BIPC, a loaf of bread could cost as much as N2,000, and water might sell for N1,000. We do our best to stabilize prices so people can get value for their money.”
He revealed that construction of a brewery is ongoing, motivated by findings that alcoholic beverage consumption in Benue State amounts to about N1 billion. He also announced that a juice factory will commence operations on October 1, 2025, noting that Benue boasts some of the best oranges and mangoes in the country.
“Benue is primarily a civil service state, and that’s why BIPC is committed to changing the economic mindset of our people,” he added.
Mr. Asemakaha further disclosed that BIPC recently trained some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in bread baking and pure water production to help reduce dependency on government.
On financial reforms, he explained that BIPC had no takeoff funds when he assumed office and staff were owed seven months’ salaries. He said his administration embarked on a recovery drive and successfully reclaimed N132 million worth of company assets from illegal acquisitions.
