Chidimma Uchegbu -Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has commenced discussions with the European Union Dairy Coalition of the Willing to accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s dairy sector through strategic investment and technical collaboration.
The engagement took place on Tuesday 10th March 2026, during a meeting between the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and representatives of the coalition in Abuja.
The EU Dairy Coalition comprises three leading global dairy companies – Arla Foods, Danone, and FrieslandCampina – with a combined legacy of over four centuries in dairy production and strong footprints across international markets.
Welcoming the delegation, the Minister described the coalition as a partnership of “willing and capable partners,” noting that their experience and global capacity present a significant opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen its dairy industry and reduce dependence on imported milk.
According to him, improving livestock genetics remains the most critical factor in increasing dairy productivity and transforming the sector.
This was contained in the statement signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu.
“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,” the Minister stated.
He noted that Nigeria possesses enormous market potential for dairy products and reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to working closely with the coalition to enhance local milk production and strengthen the dairy value chain.
The Minister further proposed the establishment of a breeding centre as an immediate priority under the partnership, noting that improving dairy genetics would significantly increase milk yields and enhance the productivity of Nigerian dairy herds.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Coordinator of the EU Dairy Coalition of the Willing, Sanne Simmers, described the meeting as highly productive and noted the strong alignment between the Nigerian government and private sector partners.
She explained that the coalition is committed to increasing local milk production in Nigeria, with a focus on improving cattle genetics and strengthening the dairy value chain.
“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,” Simmers added.
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