The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s dairy industry as part of broader efforts to enhance local milk production and reduce dependency on imports.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar, disclosed this during a meeting in Abuja with a delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD), led by Country Director Xavier Muron, alongside representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Mukhtar said the government’s dairy development plan would be driven by the private sector and guided by the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), the ministry’s operational framework. He identified key obstacles facing the dairy sector, including inadequate milk collection and storage infrastructure, high transportation costs, and poor logistics.
“Some state governments are already supporting the sector by providing land, which is a crucial element in livestock production,” he noted.
The minister also urged pastoralists to adopt the use of designated grazing reserves, where the government is working to improve animal breeds, control livestock diseases, and develop pasture. He emphasized that promoting settled livestock systems would help reduce farmer-herder conflicts and strengthen national security.
“We want to discourage the movement of animals in search of pasture, which often fuels insecurity,” Mukhtar said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s demographic advantage, Mukhtar noted that the country’s large population—including 47 million children—offers a strong domestic market for dairy products.
AFD Country Director Xavier Muron said the agency, in collaboration with ECOWAS, is implementing regional programs focused on dairy value chain development and pasture improvement. He added that AFD is working on plans to provide grants to support local milk producers in Nigeria.
“Our goal is to boost local milk production, cut down imports, and promote backward integration across West Africa,” Muron stated.
The visit marks a significant step toward aligning national, regional, and international efforts to transform Nigeria’s dairy industry and enhance its competitiveness.
