Qatar’s leading dairy company, Baladna, plans to invest in a multi-million-dollar dairy and food processing facility in Ogun State, aimed at boosting local milk production and cutting Nigeria’s dependence on imports.

The development was announced during a courtesy visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun in Abeokuta by Baladna officials, accompanied by Aisha Rimi, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission.

Governor Abiodun expressed strong support for the project, assuring Baladna of the state’s commitment to its success.

He highlighted Ogun State’s conducive investment climate and its strategic proximity to Nigeria’s major consumer hubs.

“We had the pleasure of receiving Baladna, a Qatari-based dairy giant, as it sets plans in motion to establish a multi-million dollar food and dairy facility in Ogun State.

“Their visit to Abeokuta, alongside the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi, marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing drive for agro-industrial transformation.

“As global climate concerns and supply chain disruptions intensify, this initiative strongly aligns with our vision of positioning Ogun State as a center of agri-based innovation, food security, and inclusive job creation. We are confident that with the right partnership, Ogun can achieve dairy self-sufficiency and reduce national dependence on imports.

“We reaffirm our administration’s commitment to providing a seamless, investor-friendly environment devoid of bureaucratic hurdles. This investment stands to create thousands of jobs, enhance productivity, and significantly boost our state’s GDP—advancing both the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government and our own mission of building a stronger, more prosperous Ogun State,” the governor said.

Baladna, renowned for running the world’s largest integrated dairy farm and producing over 1.7 billion litres of milk annually in Algeria, plans to replicate its successful model in Nigeria.

The new facility will involve investments in land acquisition, feasibility studies, and the development of local production infrastructure.

The project supports the federal government’s efforts to enhance food security and cut Nigeria’s annual dairy import bill, which is estimated at $1.5 billion.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commissiion, Aisha Rimi, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to attracting and facilitating high-impact foreign investments, particularly in strategic sectors such as agriculture.

She stated that Baladna’s entry into Nigeria marks a significant milestone for the country’s investment promotion efforts, signaling growing confidence among global agribusinesses in the Nigerian economy.