NATIONAL DAIRY POLICY

What Is This Policy?

The National Dairy Policy provides the framework for developing Nigeria's domestic dairy industry, reducing the country's over-reliance on imported dairy products, and improving the livelihoods of pastoralists and cattle farmers by connecting them to commercial milk collection, processing, and distribution value chains.

Who Does It Target?

Fulani and other pastoralist cattle herders who are the primary milk producers but are poorly integrated into formal dairy markets Dairy processors, milk collection centres, and cold chain operators seeking to develop local supply chains Consumers relying on affordable, locally produced dairy products for nutrition Investors in dairy processing plants, milk chilling infrastructure, and cattle genetics improvement

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Reduce Nigeria's annual dairy import bill, currently exceeding $1.3 billion, by substituting with locally produced milk and dairy products Increase domestic raw milk production from approximately 700,000 tonnes to 1.5 million tonnes by 2025 Formalise milk collection systems and connect pastoralists to guaranteed commercial offtakers Improve cattle genetics through artificial insemination, breed improvement, and veterinary support programmes

Key Features

National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP): The policy is implemented within the NLTP 2019 to 2028, which includes modern ranching, cattle breeding centres, and milk collection hubs Milk Collection Centres (MCCs): State governments and private investors are supported to establish chilled milk collection centres in dairy corridors (Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi, Oyo, and Minas states) Breed Improvement Programme: AI-based cattle genetics programme aimed at increasing average milk yield per cow from below 2 litres per day toward 8 to 10 litres per day Import Substitution Targets: Policy ties reduced dairy import tariffs to domestic production thresholds, creating conditional incentives for private dairy investors Feed Development: Investments in high-quality animal feed and fodder production to underpin improved dairy cattle performance Pastoralist Integration: Policy specifically addresses the social challenge of sedentarising mobile cattle herders into stable dairy farming operations with land tenure security

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active; pilot dairy corridors operational in Kaduna and Oyo States; multinational dairy companies (Friesland Campina, Danone) engaged on local sourcing agreements Implementing Body: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security; National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI); State Livestock Departments Import Bill: Nigeria spends over $1.3 billion annually on dairy imports; the policy aims to halve this within a decade Funding: FGN budget, NLTP development partner funding, private dairy company investments, and World Bank livestock development grants

How to Access

Pastoralists and Farmers: Register cattle with State Livestock Departments; access AI and breed improvement services through veterinary extension workers or NAPRI Dairy Investors: Access investment incentives and land for dairy ranches through State Investment Promotion Agencies; engage FMAFS for offtake agreement frameworks Contact: FMAFS: fmafs.gov.ng | NAPRI: napri-abu.edu.ng | State Livestock Departments (contact through State Ministry of Agriculture)

Official Resources

Website: fmafs.gov.ng | napri-abu.edu.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Area 11, Garki, Abuja Policy Summary | Source: FMAFS, National Livestock Transformation Plan, FAO Nigeria Dairy, USAID Dairy Nigeria, Nairametrics | February 2026

Legal Framework

The National Dairy Policy operates under the National Agricultural Policy, the National Livestock Development Policy, the Animal Diseases (Control) Act, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act (on dairy product quality standards). It aligns with the NAFDAC regulations on dairy product safety, the Codex Alimentarius standards for milk and milk products (Codex Stan 243), and the FAO/WHO Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products guidelines.