Kwara moves to cut Nigeria’s dairy imports

The Kwara State Government has unveiled an ambitious livestock industrialisation agenda aimed at transforming Nigeria’s animal production sector into a projected $70bn economy, reducing the country’s heavy dependence on imported dairy products valued at over $1.5bn annually.

The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon. Oloruntoyosi Thomas disclosed this on Wednesday in Ilorin during the 2026 Press Week organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kwara State Council.

Speaking at the event, the commissioner described livestock as one of the most strategic sectors capable of driving economic growth, job creation, and industrial development in Nigeria.

She said, “The livestock industry is no longer just about traditional animal rearing or husbandry. It is now a strategic economic sector and indeed one of the most promising sectors in Nigeria.”

Oloruntoyosi said the state government was aligning its livestock development agenda with the reform initiatives of President Bola Tinubu and the agricultural transformation drive of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“I must specially commend President Bola Tinubu for his bold vision and commitment towards repositioning the livestock sector as a major driver of economic growth,” she added.

The Commissioner disclosed that Kwara was moving away from subsistence livestock practices towards a modern commercial and industrial model aimed at attracting investors and improving productivity.

“What we are trying to do is move beyond subsistence livestock production into a fully commercialised and industrialised sector,” she said.

Oloruntoyosi expressed concern over Nigeria’s widening dairy deficit, noting that local production of about 600,000 metric tons remains far below the national demand estimated at 1.7 million metric tons.

“This dependence weakens our economy, drains foreign reserves, and limits local industry growth. We are therefore prioritising strategic efforts to enhance domestic dairy production,” she assured the gathering.

He disclosed that Kwara alone is targeting about 100,000 metric tons of milk production with an estimated economic value of $150m within the state’s livestock ecosystem.

“We can target 100,000 metric tons, projecting about 150 million dollars into our economy,” she said, further explaining that the state’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone was being developed into a modern agro-industrial hub with facilities capable of supporting large-scale livestock production and processing.”

According to the Commissioner, “The SAPZ hub will provide an enabling environment with infrastructure such as roads, power supply, water facilities, cold storage systems, abattoirs, veterinary clinics, quarantine zones, and other industrial support services. It will become a modern agricultural industrial city,” she explained.

According to her, the processing zone would also support value addition in dairy production through the manufacturing of products such as butter, cheese, yoghurt, ice cream, and powdered milk.

“In 2023, butter imports into Nigeria were valued at $310m. If we capture just 10 per cent of that market in Kwara, it translates to over $31m in economic value,” she estimated.

The commissioner who also disclosed that the multinational dairy companies, including Danone, Fan Milk, and FrieslandCampina, already have milk collection systems capable of absorbing increased local production, insisted, “We have yoghurt companies in Kwara that require fresh cow milk. We also have major partners like Danone, Fan Milk, and Friesland that are ready to absorb as much milk as we can produce.”

On meat production, Oloruntoyosi said Nigeria’s rising import bill on processed meat products presents huge opportunities for local investors across sausages, beef, poultry, and related products.

“In 2023, Nigeria imported about $10.1m worth of sausages. Capturing even 10 per cent of this market would significantly boost Kwara’s economy,” she said.

The commissioner, thus, encouraged youths and women to take advantage of structured livestock programmes, stressing that profitability in the sector was achievable even on a small scale with improved breeds and modern production practices.

“With 10 cows producing improved yields of about 15 litres per day, farmers can earn over N97,000 daily, and the returns increase significantly with scale,” she explained.

Oloruntoyosi also urged residents to register with the ministry and join recognised associations to benefit from government support and business opportunities in the sector.

“The market has already been created. We encourage youths, women, and producers to register with the ministry and join organised associations to access support and scale up their businesses,” she said.

She emphasised the role of strategic communication in attracting investment into the livestock sector.

“Communication is not merely publicity. It is a strategic development tool for attracting investors, building confidence, and promoting opportunities in the livestock sector,” she added.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Kwara State Council, Biola Azeez of Tribune Newspapers, described the Press Week as a period of reflection on journalism practice and the evolving demands of the digital era.

He said journalists remain central to accountability and public enlightenment despite the challenges confronting the profession.

Also speaking, Hon. Ahmad Muhammad, an aspirant seeking to represent the Adena/Bani/Gwanabe/Gwaria constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, commended journalists for sustaining national attention on insecurity in parts of the state.

He said, “Thank you for being instrumental in ensuring that the criminal activities perpetrated by bandits and other criminal elements are not swept under the carpet.”

“Your consistent reports on incidents in Kwara North, especially the continued captivity of the 176 abducted Woro victims, have remained credible and sustained national attention on the issue.”

A representative of the Amir Companion, Ibrahim AbdulKadir, meanwhile praised journalists for their contributions to public enlightenment and national development.

He said, “The media remains a vital institution in shaping public opinion, promoting peace, and strengthening democracy. Journalists must continue to uphold truth, fairness, and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.”

The event marked the conclusion of the 2026 Press Week activities of the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, which also featured a table tennis championship held on Tuesday at the George Innih Stadium.

At the end of the tournament, Ibrahim Alege of Television Continental emerged as the champion after defeating Kayode Adeoti of Sobi FM in the final, while Abdulwaheed Bibire of Nigerian Television Authority and Dada Olaolu of Information Chapel finished as joint third-place winners.