Benue Investment Company Driving Alia’s Economic Reforms, Says Official

The Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) says its initiatives under Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration have contributed significantly to economic reforms, job creation and investment expansion in the state over the last three years.

The media officer of BIPC, Peter Asema, stated this yesterday during a chat with LEADERSHIP.

He said the company had positioned itself as a major driver of economic growth through strategic investments, industrial revival initiatives and partnerships aimed at boosting economic activities across the state.

According to him, the Alia administration has pursued policies targeted at reducing dependence on federal allocations by promoting an investment-driven economy through institutional reforms, support for local businesses and efforts to attract private sector participation.

Asema said BIPC had intensified efforts to revive dormant industries and expand investment opportunities across critical sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, real estate and commerce.

He explained that the state-owned investment company had strengthened partnerships with investors and development stakeholders to harness Benue’s economic potential, particularly in agriculture, where the state holds a comparative advantage as the nation’s food basket.

“BIPC has continued to create platforms that encourage investments while supporting enterprises capable of generating employment and improving internally generated revenue for the state,” he said.

Asema noted that under the group managing director and chief executive officer of BIPC, Dr Raymond Asemakaha, the company had introduced initiatives aimed at improving the ease of doing business and expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

He said employment generation remained a priority of the administration, adding that BIPC-led programmes had created direct and indirect jobs for youths and women across various sectors of the economy.

According to him, several small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) have also benefitted from business support initiatives designed to improve productivity and strengthen local enterprise development.

Asema further stated that infrastructure development and investment-friendly policies introduced by the state government had complemented the administration’s economic agenda by improving market access and boosting investor confidence.

He added that transparency measures and reforms in public sector management had also contributed to creating a more attractive environment for investors.

Speaking on agriculture, Asema said BIPC had focused on strengthening value chains through support for processing, storage, packaging and marketing initiatives aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and increasing the commercial value of agricultural produce.

He maintained that the interventions were designed to improve food production, encourage agro-processing and create additional income opportunities for farmers and agribusiness operators.