In an effort to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry and slash the country’s staggering over $1.5 billion annual milk import bill, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) and the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) have agreed to partner under a joint initiative designed to unlock the full potential of the dairy value chain.
The agreement followed a strategic meeting held on Friday, August 1, 2025, at the FMLD headquarters in Abuja. Discussions centered on aligning efforts through the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), a roadmap aimed at boosting domestic milk production, enhancing rural livelihoods, and positioning livestock as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy.
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, praised NNDC’s commitment to revitalising the livestock sector and highlighted the importance of this partnership in addressing longstanding challenges within the industry.
“Your proposal resonates strongly with our mandate. We welcome NNDC’s interest in catalysing change within the livestock sector. This collaboration has the potential to unlock dormant value chains, especially in dairy, and help us meet our national targets,” Maiha said.
He pointed out that the Ministry is focusing on key investment areas such as genetics improvement, cold-chain logistics, agricultural extension services, and structured market systems.
“The truth is, we are where we are because we’ve lacked the right investors; those who truly understand the dynamics of livestock production and can fill critical gaps in genetics, feeding systems, infrastructure, and market access,” the Minister added.
Maiha also stressed that the success of the NL-GAS initiative hinges on strong coordination among stakeholders, co-investment, and the development of commercially viable livestock clusters that benefit both traditional herders and commercial farmers.
His words: “The National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy is our roadmap, but we need credible partners like NNDC to give it flesh. It’s not just about policy; it’s about implementation through viable investments.
“If we commercialise every stage of the dairy value chain and support smallholders with scalable infrastructure, we can not only reduce imports but turn livestock into a powerful economic engine for Nigeria.”
Leading the NNDC delegation, Group Managing Director Shehu Mai-Borno expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating that the company is ready to bring in capital, technical know-how, and infrastructure to advance local dairy production.
“We intend to establish integrated dairy hubs that empower smallholder farmers, create jobs, and increase local milk supply, especially across northern Nigeria,” Mai-Borno noted.
He also reaffirmed that NNDC is recalibrating its investment priorities to focus on high-impact sectors, with livestock positioned at the forefront.
Founded in 1949 and later incorporated as the New Nigeria Development Company in 1976, NNDC has long been dedicated to driving economic development across the 19 northern states of Nigeria.
As a next step, both parties agreed to immediately set up a joint task force that will develop a detailed implementation plan aligned with the Ministry’s broader livestock transformation goals.
