The Nigerian Government, through the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, is partnering with the EU Dairy Coalition, a consortium of major European dairy companies to boost milk and dairy production in the country.
On Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, met with representatives of the coalition, which includes Arla Foods, FrieslandCampina, and Danone.
A statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu, noted that the minister described the coalition as “willing and capable partners,” adding that their combined legacy of over four centuries in dairy production and strong international market presence would be invaluable to Nigeria’s livestock sector.
Maiha stressed that improving cattle genetics is central to the collaboration. “You can talk about livestock transformation for decades, but without improving the productivity of the animals, we will not achieve meaningful results. Genetics is, therefore, central to this collaboration,” he said.
He added that Nigeria has huge market potential for dairy products and called for the establishment of a breeding centre for dairy cattle in Nigeria as an immediate step to strengthen the dairy value chain.
Coordinator of the EU Dairy Coalition, Sanne Simmers, described the meeting as highly productive and pledged the coalition’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s dairy transformation. “Our focus as a Coalition is to work together to improve dairy productivity in Nigeria, particularly through better cattle genetics and stronger collaboration with the Ministry. By combining global expertise with Nigeria’s vast potential, we can help unlock sustainable growth in the sector,” she said.
By Godwin Ogar, Abuja
