A member of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, Prof. Demo Kalla, has said Nigeria’s quest for dairy self-sufficiency will remain unattainable unless state and local governments take deliberate ownership of dairy development initiatives.
Kalla, who is also the Acting Director of the TETFUND Centre of Excellence on Dairy Research and Development at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, made the call during a panel session held to commemorate the 2026 World Milk Day.
Speaking on the theme, “Mainstreaming Dairy Development Policy at the Sub-national Level for Self-sufficiency: Opportunities, Challenges and Way Forward,” Kalla said dairy development must move beyond federal policy frameworks and become an integral part of state planning, budgeting and economic development strategies.
He described sub-national involvement as the missing link in Nigeria’s efforts to unlock its vast livestock potential and achieve dairy self-sufficiency.
According to him, milk production takes place within communities, making the commitment of state and local governments critical to the success of the country’s dairy transformation agenda.
“In practical terms, it means moving dairy development from being viewed as a federal livestock initiative to becoming a priority economic sector owned and driven by states and local governments,” Kalla said.
He urged states to domesticate the National Dairy Policy, establish investor-friendly frameworks and promote milk consumption as a key component of nutritional security.
The dairy expert also highlighted the importance of universities, research institutions and extension services, describing them as the backbone of sustainable dairy development.
He noted that academic institutions have a responsibility to provide evidence-based solutions, adapt technologies to local realities and build the skilled workforce required to drive growth in the sector.
Kalla identified demand-driven research, technology transfer through demonstration farms and digital platforms, as well as capacity building, as immediate priorities for the industry.
“The dairy industry we desire will not emerge from investments in infrastructure alone. It will be built on knowledge, innovation, skills and partnerships,” he said.
He announced that the Dairy Research and Development Centre was ready to serve as a national platform for research, innovation, capacity building and knowledge sharing to support the dairy value chain.
Kalla also called on the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders to accelerate the country’s journey towards milk self-sufficiency, improved nutrition and rural economic growth.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the President on Livestock Development and Co-Chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, Prof. Attahiru Jega, described dairy development as a strategic economic venture capable of creating jobs, improving nutrition and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported dairy products.
Jega said this year’s World Milk Day theme, “Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers: Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation,” recognised the critical contributions of women to milk production, processing, marketing and value addition.
He noted that the United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer further underscored the importance of empowering women in agriculture and food systems.
According to him, women dairy farmers require greater access to finance, productive assets, technology, skills acquisition opportunities and markets to maximise their contributions to national development.
Jega said the livestock reforms being implemented under President Bola Tinubu had placed dairy development at the centre of efforts to transform the livestock economy.
He stressed that promoting fresh milk consumption was both a public health necessity and an economic strategy capable of strengthening local value chains, improving household incomes and enhancing food and nutrition security.
The presidential adviser added that the committee remained committed to policy reforms, investment promotion, breed improvement, pasture development, infrastructure expansion and stronger public-private partnerships aimed at repositioning the dairy sector.
He called on state governments, investors, financial institutions, processors and development partners to work together in driving dairy development across the country.
Jega expressed optimism that a competitive dairy industry would generate wealth, create jobs and guarantee access to nutritious fresh milk for Nigerians.
