The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has raised the alarm over the poor state of Nigeria’s dairy industry, warning that low milk productivity per animal and other structural bottlenecks have left the country with a production deficit of approximately 60 per cent and an annual dairy import bill exceeding $1.5bn.
The association stated that Nigeria produces only about 700,000 metric tonnes of milk annually, compared to a national consumption of 1.6 million metric tonnes, despite having more than 20 million cattle and vast agricultural resources capable of supporting a thriving dairy industry.
According to the Abuja Liaison Office article in the MAN News April–June 2026 edition, many local cattle breeds produce less than one litre of milk daily, compared to 20 to 30 litres produced by dairy cows in developed countries.
MAN said, “Despite the enormous potential, several structural challenges continue to constrain the growth of Nigeria’s dairy sector. These are low milk productivity per animal. For example, while dairy cows in developed countries can produce 20–30 litres of milk per day, many local breeds in Nigeria produce less than one litre per day on average.”
The association added that inadequate dairy infrastructure, limited milk collection systems, poor cold-chain logistics, insufficient storage facilities, limited access to finance for dairy farmers, security and grazing challenges, and weak value-chain integration continue to hamper growth in the sector.
