ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria has begun importing high-yield dairy cattle from Denmark as part of an ambitious plan to double its milk production within five years and reduce reliance on costly dairy imports, Livestock Minister Idi Maiha said Monday.
“Our goal is ambitious but achievable: to double Nigeria’s milk production from 700,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes annually in the next five years,” Maiha said in Abuja.
Despite having one of Africa’s largest cattle populations — more than 20 million — Nigeria produces less than half of its annual milk consumption of 1.6 million tonnes. The result is a dependency on imports that cost the country approximately $1.5 billion a year.
“We import around 60% of our milk,” Maiha noted. “That’s a burden on our economy we intend to reduce.”
The government’s new strategy includes upgrading Nigeria’s largely low-yield pastoralist cattle breeds through selective breeding and technology-driven farming. One Nigerian farm has already imported over 200 heifers from Denmark, according to the minister.
“To build from strength, we’re improving not just herd size but herd quality,” he said. “With over 20.9 million cattle, 60 million sheep, and 1.4 million goats already, we are not starting from zero.”
Maiha added that eight new pasture species have been registered — the first in 48 years — and a national strategy for animal genetic resources has been launched with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization.
The initiative is part of Nigeria’s broader effort to boost food security and reduce agricultural imports through sustainable livestock development.
