Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, NNDC partner to slash US$1.5B milk imports

NIGERIA – The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) and the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) have partnered to slash the country’s US$1.5 billion annual milk import bill under a joint initiative designed to unlock the full potential of the dairy value chain.

The agreement followed a strategic meeting held on Friday, August 1, 2025, at the FMLD headquarters in Abuja.

Discussions centered on aligning efforts through the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), a roadmap aimed at boosting domestic milk production, enhancing rural livelihoods, and positioning livestock as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy.

Nigeria currently spends over US$1.5 billion annually on milk imports—a figure that underscores both the country’s growing dairy consumption and its domestic production gap.

Recognizing the urgent need for change, the FMLD–NNDC alliance is designed to stimulate local production, empower pastoral communities, and establish sustainable dairy clusters across the country.

Officials from both institutions emphasized that this partnership isn’t merely about economic figures—it’s about fostering livestock innovation, enhancing food security, and unleashing the full potential of Nigeria’s agricultural resources.

Through joint investments, technical support, and strategic policy frameworks, the initiative aims to modernize farming practices, improve breed quality, and streamline cold chain logistics to support dairy businesses from farm to market.

Leading the NNDC delegation, Group Managing Director Shehu Mai-Borno expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating that the company is ready to bring in capital, technical know-how, and infrastructure to advance local dairy production.

“We intend to establish integrated dairy hubs that empower smallholder farmers, create jobs, and increase local milk supply, especially across northern Nigeria,” Mai-Borno noted. 

He also reaffirmed that NNDC is recalibrating its investment priorities to focus on high-impact sectors, with livestock positioned at the forefront.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, praised NNDC’s commitment to revitalising the livestock sector and highlighted the importance of this partnership in addressing longstanding challenges within the industry.

“We welcome NNDC’s interest in catalysing change within the livestock sector. This collaboration has the potential to unlock dormant value chains, especially in dairy, and help us meet our national targets,” Maiha said.

He pointed out that the Ministry is focusing on key investment areas such as genetics improvement, cold-chain logistics, agricultural extension services, and structured market systems.

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