The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has announced an ambitious plan to double Nigeria’s milk production from 700,000 metric tonnes to 1.4 million metric tonnes annually within five years.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, revealed this at Monday’s flag-off ceremony for World Milk Day 2025, held in Abuja.
The event, themed “Let’s Celebrate the Power of Dairy,” marked a significant step in the government’s renewed commitment to revitalising the dairy sector and ensuring long-term food security.
Emphasising the need for a modern, resilient, and globally competitive dairy industry, Maiha highlighted Nigeria’s potential to lead in the next dairy boom, citing the country’s large cattle population and growing demand for milk.
He highlighted the importance of innovation, inclusive policies, and resilient infrastructure in driving the dairy sector forward.
The Ministry’s National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy addresses critical challenges facing the dairy value chain, including livestock value chain development, feed and fodder improvement, and animal health.
The Minister called on stakeholders, including Government Agencies, the private sector, investors, and youth, to collaborate and invest in the dairy sector. He also emphasised the need for digital solutions, such as drone-assisted pasture monitoring and mobile vet services, to drive innovation and growth in the industry.
“With a projected 30% rise in global dairy demand by 2035, Nigeria is poised to capitalise on this opportunity and become a major player in the global dairy economy,” he said
Ambassador Gautier Mignot, head of the EU delegation, presented the keynote address. He emphasised the strategic importance of dairy development in Nigeria and highlighted the sector’s potential to improve nutrition, create jobs, and promote sustainable agriculture.
He said the European Union (EU) and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development had pledged to collaborate on a major initiative to transform Nigeria’s dairy sector.
“The partnership aims to unlock the sector’s immense potential, contributing to food security, job creation, youth empowerment, and national economic transformation.”
He said the EU had launched a series of consultation meetings with key stakeholders, including major EU businesses such as Arla, Danone, and Friesland Campina, which have committed to local sourcing, capacity building, and dairy infrastructure development.
“The partnership will focus on strengthening the dairy value chain, improving infrastructure, and promoting dairy consumption through nutrition education. It will also prioritise environmental sustainability, climate-smart agriculture, and inclusive growth, with a strong emphasis on youth and women’s empowerment”, he noted.
He added, “We believe in building a future where Nigerian dairy farmers have the right tools, knowledge and support systems to thrive. Over the past decades, we have demonstrated through our dairy development program, which integrates thousands of local farmers, delivers sustainable uptake models and improves livelihoods across the country. Our work provides enough to reflect on our progress and, more importantly, to align our next steps toward a more resilient future for Nigeria.
“We must continue to expand our dairy communities, accelerate access to financing, improve infrastructure and promote dairy consumption through nutrition education. We must work collectively to achieve a private sector built on quality, innovation and inclusion.”
