Nigeria Government Reviews National Dairy Policy Regulatory Frameworks

The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken a decision to review the national dairy policy and regulatory framework, as part of its efforts to improve the dairy sub-sector to satisfy national demand for milk and dairy products.

The development is made known by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Mahmood Abubakar after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja.

He explained that a memo submitted by his ministry Is hinged on a need to review the framework and guiding principles for the development of an efficient dairy sub-sector to satisfy the national demand for milk and dairy products.

According to him, revamping the dairy sector also fell under the national food security policy, stressing that there was no way food security can be extricated from nutrition security.

However, he mentioned that the Vice President, who chairs the National Council on Nutrition, has also advocated the need for the establishment of the nutrition department in several ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

“The memorandum presented to Council today was to seek Council approval for the draft National Dairy Policy to regulate the Nigerian dairy industry by providing a framework and guiding principles for the development of an efficient dairy sub-sector to satisfy the national demand for milk and dairy products.

“We have always been talking about food security, but we realize that food and nutrition security goes hand in hand,” he stated.

Agro Nigeria / Lucy Offoboche