The Ogun State Government’s widely publicised announcement of a multi-million dollar investment by Qatar’s largest dairy firm, Baladna, has come under scrutiny after the company denied any such agreement.

The original announcement, reported by several major media outlets including The Guardian Nigeria, claimed that Baladna was preparing to establish a major dairy production facility in Ogun State. This claim followed a courtesy visit by representatives said to be from Baladna, accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi, to Governor Dapo Abiodun in Abeokuta.

Governor Abiodun shared images from the meeting on his official X account (@DapoAbiodunCON), with a caption stating that Baladna was “set to establish a multi-million dollar food and dairy facility in Ogun State.” The state government’s X handle, @OGSG_Official, also issued a detailed statement suggesting that Baladna planned to replicate its global dairy farming success in Nigeria.

The post described the project as one that would boost food security, create jobs, and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported dairy, which currently costs the country an estimated $1.5 billion annually. Governor Abiodun was quoted as welcoming the “partnership” and promising the state’s full support.

However, shortly after The Guardian published the story titled “Qatar’s Baladna to Set Up Multi-Million Dollar Dairy Factory in Ogun,” the paper received messages disputing the report’s accuracy.

When contacted, Baladna’s Marketing and Communications Director, Aladdin Idilbi, confirmed via WhatsApp that the visit was merely exploratory. “To clarify, the visit was purely exploratory, aimed at assessing potential sites for arable and dairy farming. No agreement has been signed,” he said.

Idilbi added that as a publicly listed company on the Qatar Stock Exchange, Baladna is bound by disclosure regulations. “If there was any kind of agreement, you would see the news on our official website the minute they take the photo,” he noted. He also emphasised that no statements about Baladna’s plans should be made without the company’s approval.

Following this, Baladna issued a formal letter to The Guardian, reiterating that “there are no agreements or announced projects regarding a dairy investment in Ogun State, Nigeria.” The company stated that while it is exploring “potential avenues for cooperation,” no commitments or partnerships have been made.

Baladna also warned against unauthorised use of its name or dissemination of information without formal disclosure through the appropriate regulatory channels in Qatar.

In response to the company’s denial, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kayode Akinmade, clarified that no binding agreement exists between Ogun State and Baladna. In an interview with The Guardian Nigeria, he explained that the visit was a fact-finding mission, not the culmination of a signed deal.

“There is no signed agreement,” Akinmade confirmed. “They came to explore opportunities. Ogun State showcased what we have to offer—land, proximity to Lagos, and a favourable business environment. It was a win-win conversation, but nothing has been finalised.”

He pushed back against claims of misrepresentation, stating that the visit had been publicly covered and that the individuals present were believed to be representatives of Baladna.

The development has raised concerns about premature investment announcements and their impact on credibility, particularly when involving foreign companies with strict disclosure obligations.