By Atoyebi Nike
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to developing Nigeria’s dairy sector in a bid to increase local milk production and cut down on imports.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar, disclosed this during a meeting with a delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD) and ECOWAS representatives in Abuja. He said the government’s dairy initiative would be led by the private sector and anchored on the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS).
Mukhtar noted challenges facing the industry such as poor milk collection systems, limited storage, high transport costs, and weak logistics infrastructure. He said several states are now supporting livestock transformation by providing land for large-scale dairy development.
He urged pastoralists to adopt designated grazing reserves where the government is improving breeds, managing animal health, and cultivating pasture to curb herder-farmer conflicts. “We don’t want animals moving around due to insecurity tied to the search for grazing land,” he said.
The Minister also emphasized Nigeria’s huge market potential, citing the country’s large population including 47 million children as a strong base for dairy demand.
AFD Country Director Xavier Muron confirmed the agency’s partnership with ECOWAS to support dairy and pasture development. He said AFD is finalizing grant support for Nigerian milk producers as part of efforts to encourage local production and reduce reliance on imports.
