FG, AFD, ECOWAS collaborate to strengthen Nigeria’s dairy sector

The federal government has reiterated its commitment to revamping Nigeria’s dairy industry in a bid to boost local milk production and reduce reliance on imports.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar, made this known during a high-level meeting in Abuja with officials from the French Development Agency (AFD), led by Country Director Xavier Muron, and representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Mukhtar explained that the dairy transformation agenda will be spearheaded by the private sector and guided by the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), which serves as the ministry’s strategic roadmap. He identified persistent challenges such as poor milk collection and storage facilities, high transportation costs, and inadequate logistics as barriers to sector growth.

“Several state governments are already contributing by providing land, a key resource for livestock development,” he said.

The minister also urged pastoralists to take advantage of designated grazing reserves, where efforts are underway to enhance livestock breeds, combat diseases, and grow pasture. He stressed that encouraging sedentary livestock practices would help prevent farmer-herder conflicts and bolster national security.

“We aim to discourage open grazing, which often leads to insecurity due to competition for pasture,” Mukhtar added.

He noted that Nigeria’s large and youthful population—especially its 47 million children—represents a vast market for locally produced dairy products.

AFD Country Director Xavier Muron revealed that the agency, in partnership with ECOWAS, is running regional initiatives focused on developing the dairy value chain and improving pasture availability. He also announced plans to offer grants to Nigerian dairy producers to support local production and reduce import dependency.

“Our objective is to strengthen local dairy production, encourage backward integration, and enhance food security across West Africa,” Muron said.

The engagement reflects a shared commitment by national and international stakeholders to reposition Nigeria’s dairy industry for sustainable growth and competitiveness.