Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, has announced that Nigeria’s dairy consumption stands at an astonishing 1.6 billion liters per annum, underscoring the country’s significant demand for milk and its related products.
Senator Aliyu Abdullahi highlighted the critical importance of dairy in Nigeria’s nutritional landscape, noting that the themes of World Milk Day 2024 pay tribute to dairy’s life-enhancing impact on the health and vitality of the nation’s women and children, who benefit disproportionately from dairy’s nutritional riches.
The theme of this year’s global celebration is: “Let’s celebrate Nutritious and Sustainable Dairy”.
Abdullahi said that the theme for Nigeria’s celebration of the World Milk Day is: “Harnessing the Nutrition and Investment opportunities in the Dairy Value Chain”.
He said that both themes focused on celebrating the vital role dairy played in delivering quality nutrition to nourish Nigeria’s citizens especially, women and children.
The minister highlighted that the celebration seeks to unlock the dairy sector’s capacity to drive economic progress, enhance the livelihoods of farmers and value chain stakeholders, and generate employment opportunities that collectively contribute to the nation’s growth and prosperity.
The minister cited Central Bank of Nigeria data showing that Nigeria’s dairy import bill tallies up to a staggering $1.5 billion annually, a figure that underscores the urgent need for domestic dairy development.
“This is because of our production deficit which stood at nearly 60 per cent as Nigerians consumed an average of 1.6 billion litres of milk and its products.
“The passionate dream of President Bola Tinubu is for us to attain national production security to even lead to export of dairy products to African countries under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
June 1, is the official day set aside globally to celebrate World Milk Day.
“It is in pursuance of this priority plan that speedy actions to transform the Livestock Sector especially the dairy value chain towards attaining food and nutrition security becomes not only imperative but an urgent national duty,” he said.
The minister said that the Federal Government was mindful of the key issues and challenges of the diary sector.
He assured that President Tinubu is sincerely concerned and urgently want a reversal of the negative state of the dairy industry.
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“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,” he said.
Abdullahi said the ministry in collaboration with national and international partners would in the next few years work assiduously and strategically within the approved National Dairy Policy.
Senator Aliyu Abdullahi emphasized that the new dairy policy will champion a range of initiatives and interventions focused on upscaling dairy farming practices, building the capacity of smallholder farmers, and providing them with access to cutting-edge training and extension services to boost their productivity and sustainability.
Senator Aliyu Abdullahi revealed that the initiatives will prioritize excellence in livestock management, encompassing optimal feeding strategies, superior milk yields, and scrupulous handling and collection protocols, to establish a robust and efficient dairy value chain.
CODARAN’s President, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar, voiced his appreciation in a heartfelt message, welcoming the surge in recognition of milk’s nutritional benefits, which has resonated with audiences worldwide and within Nigeria.
CODARAN’s President, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar, restated the organization’s unwavering commitment to driving the development of Africa’s dairy sector, with a keen focus on delivering premium, nutritious products that meet the highest standards, from farm to table.
Mr Temi Adegoroyo, at the helm of Sahel Consulting Ltd, commended the fruitful partnership between his firm and the ministry, working in tandem to drive growth and development in Nigeria’s dairy sector.
“We are ensuring that we are linking many more private companies to small-holders farmers and building a responsive fresh milk supply chains in Nigeria.