By Joseph Erunke,Abuja

The National Association of Ogun State Students, NAOSS, has commended the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, over his administration’s attraction of a multi-million dollar Qatari-based food company to the state.

Recall that a Qatari-based agricultural company that raises livestock and produces dairy products recently declared its intention to establish its plant in Ogun.

Head of Products and Solutions Architecture of the Qatar’s largest locally-owned food and dairy producer that supplies over 95 percent of the country’s fresh dairy products, Mr. Aidan Thomas Iynan, disclosed this when he and other members of the company, led by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission,NIPC, Aisha Rimi, paid a courtesy visit to the governor, recently.

Reacting, the association said establishment of the international food company will not only go a long way to increase the revenue drive of the state, it will also create hundreds of job opportunities for teeming youths and graduates.

NAOSS in a statement signed by its National President, Kehinde Thomas, yesterday,described the latest feat in the investment drive of Governor Abiodun-led administration as a huge leap towards making the state the best investors’ destination of choice in Nigeria.

Thomas stated further that the company, when it becomes operational, will improve locally processed dairy products and help in making milk and other protein-rich products available to the people in Ogun and beyond.

He added that the industry will contribute immensely to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state and Nigeria, saying “Ogun will also benefit from the expertise, technology and capital the organization will bring”.

NAOSS National President who commended Governor Abiodun for his administration’s giant strides in infrastructural development of the state, especially the nearly completed Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport, observed that the establishment of dairy company in Ogun will boost Nigeria’s efforts towards becoming self-sufficient in dairy production and food security.

While lamenting that despite Nigeria having one of the largest cattle populations on the continent, it imports between $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion worth of dairy products annually, which is about 50% of its dairy needs, Thomas in the statement expressed optimism that the dairy company will address this deficiency.