Nigeria unveils plans for largest dairy and cattle ranches in Ogun State

NIGERIA – Governor Dapo Abiodun has announced plans to establish what he described as the largest dairy and cattle ranches in Nigeria, to be sited in Ipokia and Yewa South Local Government Areas, with an initial capacity of 5,000 herds of cattle.

The governor made the announcement during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Strategic Stakeholders Meeting at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, noting that the initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen food security, boost local agricultural production, and deepen value chains across the state.

“The biggest dairy and cattle ranches will soon be established in Yewa South and Ipokia. This is at the instance of Mr. President. These farms will start with 5,000 herds of cattle, and work will begin very soon,” Abiodun said.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his economic reforms, highlighting their role in stabilising the foreign exchange market, eliminating multiple exchange-rate regimes, and boosting Nigeria’s foreign reserves to about US$45 billion.

Nigeria advances dairy policy to curb import dependence

Nigeria has taken a bold step toward ending its US$1.5 billion annual dairy import bill and achieving self-sufficiency in milk production.

Key stakeholders from the government, the private sector, and development organisations convened in Abuja for a two-day workshop to validate the Implementation Framework of the National Dairy Policy.

The event, held on 4 November 2025, marked a significant milestone in the nation’s agricultural transformation agenda.

It brought together senior government officials, industry players, researchers and development partners to align on practical steps for repositioning Nigeria’s dairy sector for sustainability and growth.

Declaring the workshop open, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha described the exercise as a strategic platform to translate policy into tangible results.

He stressed that Nigeria must move swiftly from being a consumer of imported milk to a producer nation, noting that continued dependence on imports was an unsustainable drain on the economy.

Despite having an estimated 58 million cattle, he said, the country still spends over USD1.5 billion yearly importing milk and other dairy products. This, he observed, represents a lost opportunity for local prosperity and empowerment.

“Every dollar spent on imported milk is a dollar that could have empowered a local pastoralist, a dairy processor or a rural community,” he said. “We must transition from being a nation of dairy consumers to a powerhouse of dairy producers. There is no alternative.”

He announced several incentives designed to accelerate domestic milk production, including five-year tax holidays for new dairy processors, low-interest loans for farmers, tariff protection for local producers and the establishment of well-equipped dairy hubs across key production zones.

Subscribe to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa, the Middle East and around the world. SUBSCRIBE HERE