Abuja: The Federal Government has announced a collaborative effort with the Dairy Sub-sector Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to enhance investments in the dairy sector, aiming to satisfy local demand.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, highlighted the significance of strategic partnerships with industries to rejuvenate the dairy sector and leverage Nigeria’s extensive livestock resources. During a courtesy visit from MAN to the ministry in Abuja, Maiha pointed out that Nigeria is Africa’s largest market for vaccines and dairy products, yet the local production of dairy items like milk is insufficient to meet demand.
He noted, “If you look at the statistics today, we spend $1.5 billion to import milk and dairy products, and another $1.5 billion to import vaccines, despite having the largest market for these products in Africa.” Maiha emphasized the potential for public-private partnerships to revive the sector, including revitalizing 38 dormant livestock facilities, establishing milk collection centers, and breeding centers for goats, pigs, and cattle.
Maiha underscored that collaboration with MAN is the most efficient route to revitalize the sector. He stated, “We have 417 grazing reserves that we are going to rehabilitate, and each is available for investors eager to collaborate with us. This is one way to revive the dairy sector and boost local production.” He also highlighted opportunities in feed and fodder, milk production, and seed multiplication.
Maiha encouraged MAN to concentrate on breed improvement, milk collection centers, and aggregation, stressing the untapped potential in local milk capacity. He highlighted infrastructure challenges, saying, “We are challenged by the poor rural infrastructure. At the peak of the rainy season, farmers drain their milk because women cannot cross rivers to supply milk.”
Earlier, Ore Famurewa, Chairperson of the Dairy Sub-sector Group of MAN and Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, noted that Nigeria consumes 1.6 to 1.7 million metric tonnes of milk annually. However, only 600,000 to 700,000 metric tonnes are produced locally, creating a substantial supply deficit. Famurewa remarked that this gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity, given Nigeria’s assets for dairy development, including a large cattle population and extensive grazing lands.
She identified challenges such as low milk productivity per animal, inadequate dairy infrastructure, limited access to finance, and security and grazing issues. Famurewa called for a coordinated approach involving government, private sector investors, development partners, and local farming communities to address these challenges. The visit aimed to reaffirm the group’s commitment to Nigeria’s organized dairy industry and strengthen collaboration with the ministry in implementing the National Dairy Policy. Despite strong demand, local milk production falls short of national consumption levels, creating a significant supply gap.