Qatari Dairy Giant Baladna to Establish Multi-Million Dollar Food Factory in Ogun
Abeokuta, Ogun State – Baladna, a leading Qatari-based dairy and agricultural company, is set to establish a multi-million dollar food factory in Ogun State. The company, which is Qatar’s largest locally-owned food and dairy producer, supplies over 95% of the country’s fresh dairy products.
The announcement was made by the Head of Products and Solutions Architecture at Baladna, Mr. Aidan Thomas Iynan, during a courtesy visit to Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. The delegation, led by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi, discussed potential collaborations with the state government.
Mr. Iynan revealed that the Qatari government and Baladna have heavily invested in an integrated dairy farm, now recognized as the world’s largest single dairy farm. He expressed confidence that Nigeria, particularly Ogun State, could replicate the success seen in Algeria, where Baladna’s expertise, technology, and capital are expected to produce 1.7 billion liters of milk annually, meeting 50% of Algeria’s milk demand.
Highlighting global challenges such as climate change, prolonged droughts, and flash floods, Mr. Iynan stressed the urgency for Nigeria to achieve self-sufficiency in dairy production. “We can build highly efficient farms with world-class yields, addressing not just dairy and meat production but also crop cultivation,” he said.
The visit aimed to explore land acquisition opportunities and discuss collaboration with the Ogun State government to develop feasibility studies and actionable plans for the project.
Speaking at the meeting, NIPC Executive Secretary Aisha Rimi noted Nigeria’s low milk production despite its vast potential, with urbanization and a growing population increasing demand. She disclosed that although Nigeria has one of the largest cattle populations in Africa, it only meets about 50% of its dairy needs, importing between $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion worth of dairy products annually.
Rimi emphasized the federal government’s efforts to boost local production through the National Dairy Policy, the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development, and the expanded National Livestock Transformation Plan.
In his response, Governor Abiodun acknowledged Nigeria’s rising milk demand, now at 1.6 billion liters per year, with 50-70% sourced from imports. He criticized previous failed attempts by some investors who secured import substitution permits but only repackaged powdered milk instead of establishing dairy farms.
The governor praised Baladna’s track record, citing its rapid success in Qatar, where it achieved 35% milk supply within one month and full self-sufficiency in six months. “Your operations here will be like a walk in the park since we do not have deserts like Qatar. We are confident you can help achieve the Renewed Hope Initiative in agriculture,” he said.
Abiodun highlighted the project’s potential to create jobs, boost individual prosperity, and increase Nigeria’s GDP. He assured Baladna of seamless cooperation, stating that the company’s vision aligns with Ogun State’s agricultural development goals.
The establishment of Baladna’s factory is expected to significantly enhance Nigeria’s dairy production capacity, reducing reliance on imports and strengthening food security.
