In a major step towards repositioning Nigeria’s dairy sector, the Federal Government is exploring strategic public-private partnerships (PPPs) to expand domestic milk production, reduce the nation’s estimated $1.5 billion annual dairy import bill and unlock new opportunities across the livestock value chain.
Speaking on Friday, 10th July 2026, during the review of a proposal submitted by Hillview Ranch Enterprises Limited for a large-scale PPP initiative to boost domestic milk production, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, identified dairy development as a strategic priority of the Federal Government’s livestock transformation agenda.
The Minister stressed that Nigeria can no longer sustain its heavy dependence on imported dairy products when the country possesses the natural resources, market size and human capital required to build a globally competitive dairy industry.
“Our objective is not simply to import cattle. Our objective is to build a sustainable dairy industry that improves local productivity, strengthens our genetics, creates jobs, empowers livestock farmers and substantially reduces the nation’s dependence on imported dairy products,” the Mukhtar said.
According to him, every litre of milk produced locally translates into greater economic value retained within Nigeria while expanding opportunities for livestock farmers, processors, transporters, input suppliers and other participants across the value chain.
He, however, noted that any large-scale dairy investment must be underpinned by sound technical planning, appropriate financing mechanisms and internationally recognised PPP structures to guarantee long-term sustainability and value for public investment.
He directed that the proposal be further refined in collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and relevant stakeholders to ensure that every component is subjected to rigorous technical evaluation before implementation.
“We must get the model right from the outset. Large-scale interventions of this nature require careful planning, strong partnerships and clear implementation frameworks. Our responsibility is to ensure that every investment delivers measurable value to the Nigerian people,” he added.
During the engagement, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hillview Ranch Enterprises Limited, Mr. Ladan Jibrilu, presented the company’s proposal for a PPP framework designed to accelerate the transformation of Nigeria’s dairy sector.
According to Jibrilu, the programme aims to facilitate the importation of 60,000 pregnant or lactating dairy cattle in phases, beginning with a pilot deployment of 2,500 cattle.
At full implementation, the initiative is projected to produce approximately 229.5 million litres of milk annually, significantly boosting domestic milk production, creating employment opportunities, enhancing ranch productivity, and reducing Nigeria’s dairy import bill.
The initiative seeks to address the country’s heavy dependence on imported dairy products through the phased importation of high-yield dairy cattle and the establishment of a sustainable, commercially driven dairy production system.
The company also sought the Ministry’s endorsement for the concept, the establishment of a technical working group and the commencement of ranch readiness assessments.
Henrietta Okokon
Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations
10th July, 2026
