Benue State Government has intensified efforts to attract strategic investments in its agricultural sector, hosting a high-level delegation from NOVA Global Ltd, based in Hefei City, Anhui Province, China.
The meeting, was held on Wednesday, at Government House, Makurdi, with the state governor Rev. Fr Hyacinth Iormem Alia represented by his Deputy Barr. Sam Ode.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Governor Ode highlighted the administration’s commitment to turning Benue into a leading investment hub in Nigeria. He emphasized that agriculture remains a core pillar of the state’s development agenda, noting the government’s intention to strengthen the entire agricultural value chain from farm production to finished export products to boost foreign exchange and improve livelihoods.
Barr. Ode stressed that the government is seeking practical partnerships under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. “We want partnerships that are concrete and measurable, with clear milestones and timelines,” he said, adding that key members of the state’s economic team were present to demonstrate the government’s seriousness toward the proposed collaboration.
Earlier, Managing Director, Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, introduced the delegation, noting it included experts in agriculture, infrastructure, and mining who had previously executed pilot projects in several Nigerian states. He described the engagement as a major step toward attracting global investors to Benue.
The visiting investors, led by Professor Wang of Anhui Province, outlined plans to develop integrated agro processing zones where crop production, processing, packaging, and marketing operate as a single value chain. They indicated the need for land and infrastructure such as roads, water, and electricity, and pledged to finance the full production cycle from cultivation to export.
Some state Executive Council members, including Commissioners for Information and Finance, Peter Egbodo and Michael Oglegba, respectively, reaffirmed Benue’s commitment to modernizing agriculture, mechanizing production, reducing post-harvest losses, and creating employment for youth. Oglegba added that the Makurdi industrial zone would serve as a central hub for secondary processing and manufacturing across agricultural zones.
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