Nigeria is partnering with the European Union Dairy Coalition of the Willing to accelerate the development of its dairy industry through strategic investment, technical support, and improved cattle genetics.
The collaboration was discussed during a meeting between the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and representatives of the coalition on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, in Abuja.
The EU Dairy Coalition brings together three major global dairy companies – Arla Foods, Danone, and FrieslandCampina – organisations with extensive experience in dairy production and strong footprints across international markets. Through the partnership, Nigeria aims to boost local milk production, strengthen the dairy value chain, and reduce the country’s dependence on imported milk.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr Maiha said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment between Nigeria and the coalition to transform the country’s dairy sector.
He described the coalition as a group of “willing and capable partners” whose global expertise could help Nigeria unlock the full potential of its livestock industry.
According to the minister, improving livestock genetics remains one of the most important steps toward increasing dairy productivity in the country.
“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,” Mr Maiha said.
He explained that Nigeria has a large and growing market for dairy products and emphasised that expanding local production would help meet domestic demand while strengthening the national economy.
As part of the partnership, the minister proposed the establishment of a specialised breeding centre to improve cattle genetics and enhance the productivity of Nigeria’s dairy herds.
He noted that strengthening breeding systems and introducing improved dairy cattle would significantly increase milk yields across the country.
On her part, the Coordinator of the EU Dairy Coalition of the Willing, Sanne Simmers, described the engagement with the Nigerian government as productive and forward-looking.
She said the coalition is committed to supporting Nigeria’s ambition to grow its dairy industry through collaboration, knowledge transfer, and investment.
“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,” Ms Simmers said.
The partnership is expected to focus on improving cattle genetics, strengthening dairy production systems, and expanding Nigeria’s capacity for local milk production.
