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| Dapo Abiodun |
Governor Dapo Abiodun has disclosed that his administration would establish a world-class cattle ranch in Ogun State through the Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
Abiodun said his administration considered the opportunity the agricultural sector brings to the table very important, explaining that agriculture being one of the biggest pillars of the administration, could help boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) and also help reduce the rate of employment.
The Governor disclosed this at the Oke – Mosan Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, the State capital, when he received a team from Irish Dairy Milk; who were in the state to discuss how best they could set up their manufacturing plant in Ogun.
The Governor said: “We are very excited about the opportunity that the agricultural sector presents, the agricultural sector is one of our biggest pillars, agriculture for us, we see it as 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 discussion on cattle rearing, cattle ranching, for us in Ogun state, besides 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 as well via poultry.
“So, we are actually looking at how to set up our own ranches to be owned by the Public Private Partnership (PPP).
“Noting will delight us in these state than to have our ranches, because even the cattle market that Lagos depends on is right here in our state and we’ve been discussing in the last one week how to ensure that we actually have a proper ranch, properly organized ranch and an abatior that will be world class.”
He lauded the expressed intention of the company to set up a manufacturing plant in the state, assuring the team that the state was prepared to join hands with them as well as give whatever support that would be required to ensure realisation of the project.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, Irish Diary Milk, Global, Samir Boudjada noted that they elected to choose the state because of its strategic relevance and proximity to Lagos state.
“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 sighting a factory, you need certain parameters, we need a seaport that we can send out our goods, so, Ogun state is strategically relevant to the business of these nature and we didn’t a mistake, Ogun State has passed all tests,” he said.
