The federal government has restated its commitment to advancing dairy development in Nigeria, which is part of the efforts to enhance local milk production and reduce imports.
The minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar, made this known during a meeting in Abuja with a delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD) led by its country director, Xavier Muron, and representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Mukhtar noted that the government’s dairy development programme would be driven by the private sector and anchored on the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), which serves as the Ministry’s operational roadmap.
He highlighted key challenges facing the dairy sector, including limited collection and storage facilities, high transportation costs, and poor logistics. He said the government is pushing reforms to reposition the industry despite these hurdles.
“Some state governments have already keyed into the transformation plan of the livestock sector by providing land—an essential factor in livestock production,” he said.
The minister also called on pastoralists to use designated grazing reserves, where efforts are ongoing to improve animal breeds, manage livestock diseases, and cultivate pasture. He stressed that encouraging settled livestock farming would help reduce farmer-herder clashes and enhance national security.
“We don’t want the movement of animals from one place to another due to the insecurity issues that arise from the search for grazing land,” he added.
Mukhtar expressed optimism about the sector’s growth potential, noting that Nigeria’s large population, particularly its 47 million children, offers a ready market for dairy products.
For his part, AFD country director Xavier Muron stated that his agency, in partnership with ECOWAS, is implementing dairy value chain and pasture development programmes across the region.
“Our objectives are to support local milk production, reduce importation, and promote backwards integration throughout West African countries,” Muron said.
He also revealed that AFD is making arrangements to provide grants that will support local milk producers in Nigeria.
The visit marked a step forward in aligning regional and international efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s dairy industry and make it more competitive.
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