Qatari Firm Disowns Multi-Million Dollar Dairy Factory Deal with Ogun State
A Qatari dairy company, Baladna, has denied reports suggesting it has signed a multi-million dollar agreement with the Ogun State Government to establish a dairy factory.
This clarification comes in response to widely circulated announcements and media coverage following a recent meeting between top executives of the company and the state governor, Dapo Abiodun.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian Nigeria, Baladna’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Aladdin Idilbi, clarified that the company’s visit to Nigeria was purely exploratory.
According to him, the visit was part of a broader fact-finding mission to assess Nigeria’s agricultural potential, especially in dairy and arable farming.
He stressed that while the company was impressed with Ogun State’s infrastructure, location, and access to Lagos markets, no agreement or contract had been signed.
Idilbi further explained that as a publicly listed company, Baladna must adhere to international regulatory protocols, and any official investment decisions would be communicated through the appropriate financial disclosure channels.
He cautioned that using Baladna’s name in announcements without formal authorization could create confusion, especially for a company that operates under shareholder scrutiny and is subject to investor relations policies.
Governor Dapo Abiodun had earlier shared images and details of the meeting with Baladna’s representatives on social media, expressing optimism about attracting foreign direct investment into the state’s agricultural sector.
His media adviser, Kayode Akinmade, later confirmed that no binding deal had been reached and described the talks as part of preliminary feasibility assessments aimed at understanding land availability, investment climate, and local market potential.
The initial announcement had led to excitement in local and national media, with reports claiming that Ogun State had secured a deal to host a large-scale dairy production facility backed by Qatar.
However, Baladna’s clarification has now tempered those expectations, shifting the narrative back to one of early-stage engagement rather than finalized investment.
Despite the clarification, industry experts say the development still signals growing international interest in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.
With Nigeria spending over $1.5 billion annually on dairy imports, efforts to localize production remain a national priority. Although no agreement has been signed, Baladna’s interest in Ogun suggests the state could still be in the running for future collaborations, pending further studies and formal approvals.
As it stands, discussions between Ogun State and Baladna remain at the exploratory level, with both parties expected to continue engagements in the coming months.
Any future announcement of a formal partnership will likely come with detailed terms and a signed agreement, in line with global investment standards.
