Ogun eyes Chinese market as it collaborates with Irish company for milk export

Governor Dapo Abiodun

Ogun State
may soon be exporting milk to China once the current arrangement between the
Irish Diary Milk and the State Government becomes operational.

This was
hinted at when the Management of the Global Diary producers called on an
investment visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Wednesday in Abeokuta.

Gov. Abiodun intimated the company senior
executives that plans are on by his administration to have a world class ranch
that would be created through the Public Private Partnership.

Irish Dairy Milk came to explore and discuss
how best they could set up their manufacturing plant in the state.

The Governor
expressed gladness on the opportunity the agricultural sector brings to the
State, adding that agriculture being one of the biggest pillars of his administration,
could help boost the Internally Generated Revenue and also help reduce the rate
of unemployment in the State.

Governor
Abiodun said his administration would establish an investment promotion
agency to drive the public private partnership agenda, saying that attention
was also being paid to livestock, adding that the proximity of Ogun state to
other states could help to make it the food basket of the nation.

” We
are very excited by the opportunity that the agricultural sector presents, the
agricultural sector is one of our biggest pillars, because not only do we
believe that through agriculture we can employ our youths, we can guarantee
food security, we can also generate revenue.

“At
this point in time in this country, there is a lot of discourse on cattle
rearing, cattle ranching. For us in Ogun state, beside the fact that we are
looking at agriculture as a sector, we are looking at livestock as well, we
believe that our proximity to other states gives us the advantage of being able
to feed them, so we are actually looking at how to set up our own ranches to be
owned by the Public Private Partnership (PPP),” he said.

Abiodun
however opined that he would be glad if the state could actualize its dream of
having a cattle ranch that would aid it to continue to serve as market for
Lagos state.

“Nothing
will delight us in this state than to have our ranches, because even the cattle
market that Lagos depends on is right here in our state and we have been
discussing in the last one week how to ensure that we actually have a properly
organized ranch and an abattoir that will be world class”, he said.

The governor,
while appreciating the gesture of the company to set up their manufacturing
plant in the state, assured them that the state was ready and prepared to
join hands with them, adding that his administration would be more than happy
to give them whatever support that would be required.

In his
remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, Irish Diary Milk Global, Samir Boudjada,
who noted that they chose the state because of its proximity to Lagos state,
added that the state was strategically relevant and had passed all tests.

“This
is the ultimate state for us, the feedback is really positive and we are
looking forward to being part of this private partnership and creating jobs in
Nigeria.

“This
is the gateway state close to Lagos and you know when you are siting a factory,
you need certain parameters, we need a seaport through which we can export our
goods. So, Ogun state is strategically relevant to the business of this nature
and we did not make mistake, Ogun State has passed all the tests”, he
said.