Livestock Minister Pushes for Policy-Driven Self-Sufficiency in Dairy Sector

News in Brief:

-Minister Idi Mukhtar Maiha urged stakeholders to create innovative solutions and a unified roadmap to end Nigeria’s ₦1.5 billion annual dairy import dependence.

-The validation workshop emphasised collaboration, policy alignment, and modern livestock practices to achieve national self-sufficiency in milk production.

Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, urged stakeholders in the dairy sector to develop innovative and practical strategies to end the nation’s dependence on imported dairy products.

Maiha made the call during his keynote address at the National Dairy Policy Implementation Framework Validation Workshop. The event was organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition, and other partners.

The Minister noted that Nigeria spends $1.5 billion annually on dairy imports, a figure he described as both a challenge and an opportunity.

“This amount should not be viewed as a fixed cost, but rather as a potential investment in our future,” Maiha said. He added that transforming the dairy sector could unlock economic growth, improve the livelihoods of Nigerians, and strengthen national resilience.

Toward Self-Sufficiency in Dairy Production

Maiha tasked participants at the workshop to scrutinise the draft dairy policy framework, identify bottlenecks, and propose practical, results-driven solutions that would lead Nigeria toward self-sufficiency.

“Let us leave this workshop with a clear, actionable roadmap that will ensure that within the shortest possible time, the milk consumed in every Nigerian home is proudly our own and sustainably sourced from our farms,” he said.

Stakeholders Urge Collaboration Across Sectors

In his goodwill message, Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, stated that effective collaboration among government agencies, private sector players, farmers, academia, and development partners was critical to unlocking the immense opportunities within the dairy value chain.

He noted that increased coordination would drive job creation, rural empowerment, and reduced import dependency.

Sector Challenges and Opportunities Identified

Delivering her welcome address, Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, highlighted long-standing issues in Nigeria’s dairy sector, including low milk yield, poor breed quality, weak market linkages, and limited access to finance and modern technologies.

Represented by Mr Victor Egbon, Director of the Ruminants and Monogastric Division, she expressed optimism that Nigeria’s livestock population, skilled workforce, and renewed commitment could transform these challenges into opportunities.

“What we have often lacked is a unified and results-driven approach to bring all stakeholders under one coordinated direction,” Dr. Akujobi stated.

The event drew participants from Sahel Consulting, CODARAN, GIZ, and other development partners working to strengthen Nigeria’s dairy ecosystem.