|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has unveiled a bold plan to transform Nigeria’s dairy sector, targeting a doubling of milk production from 700,000 metric tonnes to 1.4 million metric tonnes annually within the next five years.
Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, stated this in his opening address at the flag-off of the World Milk Day 2025, with the theme ‘Let’s Celebrate The Power of Dairy’, held in Abuja on Monday.
Emphasising the need for a modern, resilient, and globally competitive dairy industry, Maiha highlighted the potential for Nigeria to lead in the next dairy boom, citing the country’s large cattle population and growing demand for milk.
He emphasised the importance of innovation, inclusive policies, and resilient infrastructure in driving the dairy sector forward. The Ministry’s National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy aims to address critical challenges facing the dairy value chain, including livestock value chain development, feed and fodder improvement, and animal health.
The Minister called on stakeholders, including Government Agencies, the private sector, investors, and youth, to collaborate and invest in the dairy sector. He also emphasised the need for digital solutions, such as drone-assisted pasture monitoring and mobile vet services, to drive innovation and growth in the industry.
Read also: Nigeria brings in Danish cows to cut $1.5bn milk import bill
“With a projected 30% rise in global dairy demand by 2035, Nigeria is poised to capitalise on this opportunity and become a major player in the global dairy economy,” he said
Also speaking, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, head of the EU Delegation, who presented the Keynote address, emphasised the strategic importance of dairy development in Nigeria. He highlighted the sector’s potential to improve nutrition, create jobs, and promote sustainable agriculture.
He said the European Union (EU) and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development had pledged to collaborate on a major initiative to transform Nigeria’s dairy sector.
“The partnership aims to unlock the sector’s immense potential, contributing to food security, job creation, youth empowerment, and national economic transformation.”
He said the EU had launched a series of consultation meetings with key stakeholders, including major EU businesses such as Arla, Danone, and Friesland Campina, which have committed to local sourcing, capacity building, and dairy infrastructure development.
“The partnership will focus on strengthening the dairy value chain, improving infrastructure, and promoting dairy consumption through nutrition education. It will also prioritise environmental sustainability, climate-smart agriculture, and inclusive growth, with a strong emphasis on youth and women’s empowerment”, he noted.
He added, “We believe in building a future where Nigerian dairy farmers are equipped with the right tools, knowledge and support systems to thrive. Over the past decades, we have demonstrated through our dairy development program, which integrates thousands of local farmers, delivers sustainable uptake models and improves livelihoods across the country. The work we did provides enough to reflect on the progress we have made and, more importantly, to align our next steps toward a more resilient future for Nigeria.
Read also: Nestlé partners Nigerian livestock ministry to boost milk production
“We must continue to expand our dairy communities, accelerate access to financing, improve infrastructure and promote dairy consumption through nutrition education. We have to work collectively to achieve a private sector built on quality, innovation and inclusion.”
Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Livestock Development, said the 2025 World Milk Day Conference, hosted by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, is celebrated annually on June 1st, 2015, under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
“World Milk Day is our opportunity to showcase Nigeria`s achievements in the dairy sector, bring visibility to the challenges and opportunities within the value chain to galvanise collaborative action for sustainable growth.
“This year’s theme, ‘Let’s Celebrate the Power of Dairy,’ could not be more appropriate. At a time when global food systems are being reshaped by climate change, shifting demographics, and geopolitical dynamics, milk continues to stand out as one of the most accessible and nutrient-dense food sources across cultures and continents.
“It is against this global backdrop that Nigeria is choosing to reimagine its place in the dairy conversation. The creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in July 2024, was a bold and deliberate move to increase animal products supply, improve livelihoods, save foreign exchange and solve farmer-herder conflicts”, she said.
