The Federal Government has renewed its drive to domesticate Nigeria’s $1.5 billion annual dairy import bill, with the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, urging stakeholders to develop innovative, business-driven solutions that will boost local milk production and strengthen investment across the dairy value chain.
Speaking at the National Dairy Policy Implementation Framework Validation Workshop held in Abuja on Tuesday, Maiha emphasized that Nigeria must transition from being a major importer of dairy products to becoming a competitive producer and exporter.
“The $1.5 billion we spend every year on dairy imports should be viewed not as a sunk cost, but as an opportunity for investment in our future — an investment that can unlock economic growth, create jobs, and drive rural prosperity,” he said.
The Minister called on industry players, development partners, and policymakers to collaborate in refining the draft dairy policy implementation framework to address key bottlenecks and promote private-sector-led growth.
He noted that Nigeria’s dairy market holds vast untapped potential in production, processing, logistics, and retail, but continues to face challenges such as low milk yield, poor breed quality, and weak market linkages.
In his goodwill message, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, stressed that effective collaboration and policy alignment would enable Nigeria to build a competitive dairy economy capable of attracting both local and foreign investments.
He noted that unlocking opportunities across the dairy value chain would not only reduce import dependency but also create employment, empower pastoral and rural communities, and enhance national food security.
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, represented by Victor Egbon, highlighted the importance of a unified strategy and private-sector participation in turning the sector’s challenges into profitable opportunities.
However, the validation workshop, which brought together industry experts from Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition, CODARAN, GIZ, and other development partners, focused on finalizing the National Dairy Policy Implementation Framework, a blueprint designed to drive sustainable investment, value addition, and innovation across Nigeria’s dairy ecosystem.
