By Felicia Imohimi
The Federal Government has unveiled the National Dairy Policy Implementation Framework aimed at strengthening local milk production, dairy processing, cold chain systems, milk aggregation and pasture development across the country.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2026 World Milk Day.
He said the framework would also support ranch infrastructure, animal health services and private sector participation across the dairy value chain.
World Milk Day is commemorated annually on June 1.
The theme for this year is: “Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers: Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation”.
Maiha said a major milestone in the dairy transformation journey was recorded in November 2025 when the ministry convened stakeholders to harmonise practical strategies for strengthening local milk production and dairy development.
According to him, the engagement culminated in the validation of the National Dairy Policy Implementation Framework, a critical step towards translating policy objectives into measurable and actionable outcomes.
“Nigeria has begun implementing one of the most coordinated livestock and dairy transformation efforts in recent history.
“The establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development on July 9, 2024, marked the launch of a national roadmap for the livestock sector.
“This bold move has fostered broad-based consensus and inspired the creation of dedicated livestock ministries and agencies in 18 states,” he said.
The minister listed some of the ministry’s achievements to include securing a 2.5 billion-dollar investment commitment from Brazilian meat processing company JBS.
According to him, the investment is expected to support the establishment of six processing facilities over five years, comprising three poultry plants, two beef plants and one pork processing facility, using advanced zero-waste processing technologies.
Maiha also said the government had successfully implemented a nationwide anthrax vaccination campaign, with 6.2 million livestock vaccinated.
“We have profiled more than 600,000 livestock farmers using electronic tools to support collective production and targeted interventions.
“We have also deployed trained livestock extension service providers and private veterinary practitioners to farmer clusters across the country,” he said.
The minister further said that the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority had signed a 496 million-dollar Memorandum of Understanding with Asset Green Limited of the United Kingdom for the establishment of an integrated dairy livestock production and processing enterprise in Nigeria.
According to him, the project includes a 10,000-milking-cow dairy operation, fodder production facilities and a modern dairy processing plant capable of producing fresh milk, butter, cream, milk powder and infant formula.
“It is projected to generate about 2,500 direct jobs and more than 5,000 indirect jobs across the dairy value chain.
“These developments signal growing confidence in Nigeria’s dairy economy,” he said.
Maiha assured stakeholders that the ministry was intensifying implementation of the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy to promote dairy industrialisation.
He said the strategy focuses on investments in feed and fodder systems, animal health services, infrastructure, cold chain development, genetic improvement, dairy hubs, milk aggregation centres and climate-smart livestock systems.
Speaking on the theme of the event, the minister said government was deliberately promoting greater participation of women in the dairy sector under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, emphasis is being placed on labour-saving technologies, improved milk storage systems, mobile veterinary support and extension services tailored to women dairy producers.
He noted that women often shoulder the dual responsibilities of livestock production and household care.
Maiha said improving the productivity of women dairy farmers required deliberate investments in infrastructure, training, financing, technology, market access and social protection.
He added that the ministry had undertaken capacity-building and empowerment programmes for smallholder dairy farmers in Borno and Oyo states.
“We remain committed to building a dairy sector that is not only productive and commercially viable, but also inclusive, equitable and transformational for women, youth and communities across Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s dairy sector, spanning production, logistics, processing and marketing, is open to investors. The market is vast.
“Within the current Nigerian economy, the production of 1,000 litres of milk daily generates one of the strongest sustainable job-creation profiles.
“Cows must be fed, watered, milked, monitored and treated. Daily milk collection, cold chain operations, transportation, aggregation and marketing all create employment opportunities.
“Producing 1,000 litres of fresh milk daily in Nigeria can support between 35 and 75 full-time jobs across the value chain, including farmers, herders, veterinary personnel, artificial insemination technicians, milk testers, collectors, processors and marketers,” he said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
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