Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia says the $250 million (₦330.4 billion) National Food City Complex will move the state from an agricultural producer to an agro-industrial economy.
Speaking in Makurdi on Monday at the project’s signing ceremony with Rexzodeneh Group Ltd, Alia, represented by his deputy, said the initiative would turn the state’s agricultural resources into wealth, jobs and prosperity.
The 30,000-hectare project will combine farming with processing, storage, logistics, energy and markets. It is expected to involve about 40,000 smallholder farmers and create up to 20,000 permanent direct jobs.
Alia said Benue must stop being mainly a supplier of raw materials and instead focus on processing and value creation.
“We must not remain merely suppliers of raw materials. We must become a centre of production, processing and value creation,” he said.
He urged the investor to deliver with transparency and accountability, while assuring the company of government support.
Earlier, BENIPA Executive Secretary Johnpaul Kpenkaa said the project would make Benue a major agro-industrial hub.
Rexzodeneh Project Manager Ramsey Ibrahim called it a new agricultural revolution, saying South Korean and Turkish technology partners would support modern farming and drone-based agriculture.
“Today, the city is coming back to the village to create the opportunity,” he said.
Ibrahim said the project would create sustainable opportunities, giving Benue’s young people greater hope, security and peace.
