Nigeria's World Milk Day Urges Fresh Dairy Consumption

During the World Milk Day conference held in Abuja, stakeholders, including President Muhammadu Damakka and Minister of Livestock Development Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, addressed the issue of low-cost milk substitutes and creamers misleading consumers. They urged Nigerians to carefully examine product labels and choose fresh dairy products whenever possible to maximize health benefits.

Nigeria's annual milk demand is approximately 1.7 million metric tons, while local production ranges between 600,000 and 700,000 metric tons, creating a significant supply gap that fuels dairy imports estimated at $1.5 billion annually. The conference also marked a milestone for Nigeria's livestock dairy transformation program, with plans to strengthen local milk production, improve processing and cold chain systems, and enhance animal health services through private sector participation.

The official framework for dairy policy implementation was unveiled during this event, which is celebrated annually on June 1.