Abuja hosts road show on World Milk Day

At an event commemorating the 2024 World Milk Day in Abuja, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed that the federal government will introduce a comprehensive dairy policy on June 4, 2024, aimed at enhancing self-sufficiency in dairy production and to diminish reliance on imports.

He disclosed that Vice President Kashim Shettima would unveil the policy, marking a significant stride toward bolstering Nigeria’s dairy sector.

Stating Nigeria’s theme for the day/occasion: “Harnessing the Nutrition and Investment Opportunities in the Dairy Value Chain”, Abdullahi underscored the vital role of the dairy industry in ensuring quality nutrition, particularly for women and children.

He said the forthcoming policy sought to implement various initiatives to improve dairy farming practices, foster Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), enhance animal health and boost investment in dairy processing and preservation.

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He added that the policy aimed to streamline business operations, strengthen data collection and facilitate market access, fostering collaboration between the private sector and government agencies.

The minister stressed the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s annual $1.3bn dairy import gap, emphasising the necessity of infrastructure development and cost reduction to stimulate investment.

He further said, “These and many more formed the foundation upon which the National Dairy Policy was developed as the radar for the journey of transformation of this crucial industry in Nigeria over the next years ahead.

“I want to assure you all that the president is sincerely concerned and urgently wants a reversal of the negative state of the dairy industry, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is ready for the challenges ahead as we work hard to renew the hope of dairy value chain actors.”

Similarly, the President of the Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN), Muhammadu Abubakar, underscored the significance of the dairy industry for both economic prosperity and nutritional wellbeing.

He called for increased investments and collaboration among industry players to propel the sector’s growth and contribute to Nigeria’s socio-economic advancement.