For decades, Benue State has carried the proud title of Nigeria’s “Food Basket.” With fertile soils nourished by the River Benue and its tributaries, the state is home to one of Africa’s richest agricultural landscapes. Yams, citrus, mangoes, rice, cassava, and soybeans dominate its fields, while livestock production is increasingly gaining ground. Yet for years, this abundance did not translate into lasting wealth, as raw produce left the state while industries and jobs clustered elsewhere.
Today, however, Benue is writing a new chapter under the administration of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia. Through reforms of its key investment institutions, the establishment of Special Agro-Processing Zones, new industrial projects, improved security, and upgraded infrastructure, the state is deliberately positioning itself as an investment-ready destination. For discerning investors, this is the moment to take a serious look at Benue.
At the heart of this transformation are the two state-owned investment institutions that have been remodeled to serve as catalysts for growth, the Benue Development and Investment Company (BDIC) and the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC).
The BDIC is spearheading Benue’s digital transformation, with a Tier III-standard data centre already under development in Makurdi in partnership with Africa Data Centres and UniCloud Africa, and a recovery site in Abuja. In addition, the company has sealed agreements with ITS Technology Shenzhen for ICT hardware assembly and distribution. These projects open wide opportunities for investors to build digital hubs, technology parks, outsourcing firms, fintech start-ups, agritech platforms, and ICT hardware ventures.
The BIPC, traditionally focused on real estate, is now anchoring agro-industrialisation. It is championing new grain aggregation centres, modern storage facilities, and agro-processing plants. Upcoming projects like the Zeva Beer Factory, which will be commissioned in December, and a juice factory that will process Benue’s abundant citrus and mango harvests into bottled products, demonstrate the shift from exporting raw produce to creating value within the state. These initiatives offer investors openings in bottling, packaging, logistics, and industrial real estate development.
The federal government’s approval of a Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) at Akerial further reinforces this shift. Designed to cluster infrastructure, land, and incentives for agro-industrial activities, the SAPZ provides investors with ready ground for cassava starch and ethanol plants, rice mills, feed mills, livestock processing, and export-oriented agro-parks at reduced entry costs.
With Benue’s central location, the SAPZ is not only positioned to serve local markets but also to feed regional trade, as goods produced can easily flow to Abuja, the South-East, and export corridors through Cross River into Cameroon. This aligns perfectly with the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, making Benue a natural hub for agro-industrial exports.
Security, which once defined investor hesitation, has seen notable improvement. Following the President’s recent visit, enhanced federal collaboration, increased security deployment, and peace-building programmes have restored calm in many communities. Farmers are returning to their fields, agribusinesses report safer movement of goods, and the general atmosphere has turned more welcoming to enterprise.
This improved security is not only encouraging farmers but also lowering operational risks for investors, thereby creating a conducive environment for new ventures in real estate, hospitality, logistics, and industrial estates.
Equally significant is Benue’s geographical advantage as a transportation crossroads in Nigeria. Located centrally, the state connects the North, South, and East through major highways, with Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo serving as commercial gateways to Abuja, Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross River, Enugu, and Kogi. The Eastern railway line, which passes through Makurdi, links the state to Port Harcourt in the south and Maiduguri in the north, presenting opportunities for long-term cargo movement.
The River Benue, one of West Africa’s largest waterways, provides potential for inland port development that could lower the cost of bulk transport and open export routes. Air travel is supported by Makurdi Airport, with future prospects for expanded cargo aviation. Investors in trucking and fleet management, cold-chain logistics, agro-export services, inland port development, warehousing, and e-commerce distribution can tap into this network.
The state-owned Benue Links Transport Company also provides a ready backbone for passenger and goods movement, offering room for private partnerships in fleet expansion, technology integration, and logistics upgrades.
Beyond agriculture and infrastructure, Benue offers untapped opportunities in energy and tourism. Crop residues such as cassava peels, maize stalks, and rice husks provide ample raw materials for biomass and biogas power generation, while abundant sunshine supports solar mini-grid projects for rural communities and industrial clusters. Culturally, the state is home to the Tiv, Idoma, and Igede peoples, three vibrant tribes whose rich traditions, festivals, and cuisines offer fertile ground for tourism development.
Scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and the River Benue’s waterfront position the state for investments in eco-tourism resorts, cultural centres, and heritage attractions. With strategic investment, Benue could grow into a tourism and hospitality hub to complement its agricultural and industrial economy.
The case for investing in Benue today is therefore compelling. The state boasts fertile land and abundant produce waiting for value addition.
Its reformed institutions, BDIC and BIPC, are actively courting and de-risking private capital. Industrial projects like the Zeva Beer and juice factories are proof that agribusiness models can thrive locally.
The Special Agro-Processing Zone is anchored by federal backing and global development finance. Security has improved significantly, restoring confidence to both farmers and businesses.
Transport links by road, rail, river, and air make Benue a natural distribution and logistics hub, while diversification opportunities exist in ICT, energy, real estate, logistics, and tourism. With these assets, Benue is no longer just Nigeria’s food basket, it is becoming an investment basket, carefully structured to attract capital and create wealth.
For investors seeking growth, stability, and first-mover advantage in Nigeria, the message is clear: the time to bet on Benue is now.
Tobi Matthew is a Public Administrator and certified Data Analyst. He’s the Director General of the President Bola Tinubu Media Centre.
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