The Federal Government has reiterated its unwavering commitment to transforming Nigeria’s dairy industry, with a renewed focus on increasing domestic milk production and reducing the country’s dependence on imports.

Speaking during a high-level meeting in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar, outlined the strategic roadmap for Nigeria’s dairy revitalization. He hosted a delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD), led by Country Director Xavier Muron, along with representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

A Private Sector-Driven Approach to Dairy Growth

Mukhtar emphasized that the government’s dairy initiative will be anchored by private sector participation and forms a major component of the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS)—the Ministry’s comprehensive blueprint for livestock development.

However, he acknowledged persistent bottlenecks in the sector, such as:

• Inadequate milk collection and cold chain facilities
• High transportation and logistics costs
• Poor infrastructure for distribution

He further noted that some state governments have already committed land to support livestock development—an essential input for pasture expansion, breeding programmes, and milk processing hubs.

Addressing Security and Sustainability Through Grazing Reserves

The Minister also advocated for the use of designated grazing reserves to reduce nomadic movement, which is often linked to security challenges and resource-based conflicts between herders and farmers.

“We’re promoting sustainable livestock practices, including controlled breeding, disease prevention, and pasture cultivation in grazing areas,” Mukhtar said, stressing that these measures are key to peaceful coexistence and rural productivity.

International Support to Strengthen the Dairy Value Chain

AFD Country Director Xavier Muron expressed the agency’s readiness to support Nigeria’s efforts. He revealed that AFD, in collaboration with ECOWAS, is finalizing plans to provide financial grants and technical assistance aimed at improving local milk production and encouraging backward integration across West Africa.

“Our focus is to assist in reducing milk imports and promote resilient, localized dairy value chains,” Muron said.

With an estimated 47 million children among Nigeria’s population, the demand for dairy products is robust—offering a compelling market opportunity for local producers and investors in the livestock space.