The Federal Government has announced a collaboration with stakeholders to validate a national action plan aimed at boosting local milk production and reducing the country’s annual $1.5 billion dairy import bill.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, announced this at a validation workshop on the National Action Plan for the Promotion of Local Milk Production in Nigeria on Monday, November 9, 2026.
The workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Speaking at the event held in Abuja, Maiha said reducing the import bill would require a practical and implementable action plan to build a modern, competitive and inclusive dairy sector.
Maiha said the plan was anchored on the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NLGAS 2025–2035), National Dairy Policy 2023–2028 and its implementation framework, as well as the Nigeria Livestock Master Plan and Livestock Sector Strategy 2026–2040.
Maiha said the era of holding conferences and workshops without tangible results in the dairy sector was over.
He urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions to implementing policies that would increase local milk production.
“Meaningful progress in the sector can only be achieved through direct engagement with farmers and other operators to identify challenges and develop practical solutions,” the minister said.
Maiha expressed concern that Nigeria lacked reliable data on daily milk production, functional dairy cooperatives, their links with processors and challenges affecting milk collection and storage.
Maiha said: “How much have we done to reduce that $1.5 billion annual figure? How much milk are we making every day all over the country? That data is unavailable.
“So, whether import is going up or coming down, we do not know, because we have no evidence-based argument.”
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Maiha said the action plan must have clear priorities, designated implementing institutions, funded activities and measurable outcomes.
The minister outlined three priorities, including directing investment to commercially viable dairy-producing areas based on feed and water availability, farmers’ capacity, security, road access and demand from processors.
The second priority, he said, was addressing constraints to reliable local milk supply through year-round access to fodder and water, improved breeds, animal health services, extension support and quality control.
He identified the third priority as linking infrastructure to viable markets through milk collection and cooling centres managed by capable operators and supported by reliable off-take arrangements.
Maiha identified existing private-sector initiatives, including FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s farmer-centred programme, Nestlé Nigeria’s dairy development activities, and private farms operated by Arla, Integrated Dairies Limited, and L&Z Integrated Dairy Farms, as foundations for expanding the sector.
The minister urged stakeholders to learn from Kenya, where cooperatives provide farmers with extension services on feeding, breeding, animal health and record-keeping, and Uganda, where private processors support milk collection, cooling and technical assistance for smallholder farmers.
He added: “The lesson is straightforward: Connect farmers to advisory services, quality-based markets, and reliable buyers.
“Ensure the inclusion of women and youths in training, finance, technology and leadership.”
The Coordinator of Milk Offensive Project, Agriculture and Rural Development, ECOWAS Commission, Dr Soule Goura, commended Nigeria’s efforts to develop the action plan.
Goura said Nigeria is a major dairy producer in West Africa, adding that the country played an important role in regional dairy development.
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