Nigeria is importing dairy cattle from Denmark as it aims to double its milk output within five years, part of a plan to cut dairy imports that cost the country $1.5 billion a year, Livestock Minister Idi Maiha said on Monday.
Nigeria has one of Africa’s largest cattle populations, but the country still struggles to produce enough milk for its people. The country currently produces 700,000 tonnes of milk per year, but Nigerians consume 1.6 million tonnes annually.
This means Nigeria has to import about 60% of its milk from other countries, creating a huge gap that costs the nation $1.5 billion every year.