The Federal Government has pledged to raise Nigeria’s milk production from the current 700 million litres a year to meet the national demand of 1.6 billion litres.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, made the commitment at a workshop on the “Final Review and Validation of Framework for the Implementation of the National Dairy Policy” held on Wednesday in Abuja.
Maiha said Nigeria has enough livestock resources to meet domestic milk needs if properly managed. He described the country’s reliance on imported dairy products as unsustainable and inconsistent with President Bola Tinubu’s goal of economic diversification and self-reliance.
He listed several measures being taken to support local farmers and investors, including soft loans, tariff protection, and the creation of dairy development hubs in key production areas.
“There is a need for urgent and coordinated efforts to transform Nigeria’s dairy industry and end the 1.5 billion dollar annual dairy import bill,” Maiha said.
Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the National Dairy Policy as a key driver of industrial growth, employment, and food security.
Represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Policy and Governance, Dr Adedeji Adeshile, Enoh said Nigeria has more than 20 million cattle but produces only about 700 million litres of milk annually—less than half of the 1.6 billion litres required.
He described the shortfall as both a challenge and an opportunity for national development, noting that the policy framework will help achieve self-sufficiency in milk production.
In his remarks, Professor Attahiru Jega, Special Adviser and Coordinator of the National Presidential Livestock Reforms Initiatives, said the framework is built on 11 strategic pillars aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Represented by Professor Demo Kalla, Director of the Dairy Research and Development Centre at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Jega said the framework reflects the president’s determination to reposition the livestock and dairy sectors as engines of growth.
He emphasised that the dairy industry represents more than milk production, highlighting its importance for nutrition, empowerment, and opportunities for farmers, women, and youth across Nigeria.
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