Vice President, Kashim Shettima has called on stakeholders in Nigeria’s dairy sector to support the federal government drive towards the transformation of the sector.
Speaking at the occasion of World Milk Day 2024 in Abuja yesterday, Shettima also launched the new National Dairy Policy, aimed to accelerate improved nutrition, import reduction, job creation, enabling an environment for massive investment among others as highlighted by the minister of state for agriculture and food security, Sabi Abdullahi.
Represented by the senior special assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Dr Kingsley Uzoma, the Vice President emphasised the sector’s vital role in providing essential nutrients for Nigerians and supporting economic development.
He said that the dairy sector faced significant challenges, including low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, and limited market access which has necessitated the need for a comprehensive policy to transform the industry.
Shettima added that the new policy will help overcome obstacles and boost domestic production to reduce import dependency.
This is as Nigeria currently spends $1.5 billion annually on importing dairy products to meet the demand of 1.6 billion litres of milk and its products.
According to the vice president, President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains committed to achieving national dairy production security, with a long-term goal of exporting the products under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
He assured that the federal government would continue to support these efforts by creating an enabling environment for capital inflow and technology transfer while stressing that greater investment and better regulatory frameworks were essential to support the growth of the dairy sector.
By focusing on strategic investments, the Vice President noted that stakeholders can unlock the full potential of the dairy value chain and a robust and sustainable industry that meets domestic demand and positions Nigeria as a leading dairy producer in Africa.
“The transformation of Nigeria’s dairy sector is not just a necessity but a collective responsibility. It requires the concerted efforts of the government, private sector, and all stakeholders to harness the nutrition and investment opportunities in a sustainable dairy value chain.
By working together, Nigeria can ensure that its dairy industry continues to thrive, providing quality nutrition, creating jobs, achieving food security, and driving economic growth, ” Shettima said.
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