Grace Izilien
3 June, 2025
Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of 32 percent of children under five. An estimated 2 million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), however, only two out of every 10 children affected is currently reached with treatment. United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund UNICEF data has revealed.
In a bid to improve the dire situation, and set the Nigerian livestock sector on the path of self sustainability, the government will be 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 has announced.
Reuters reports that, despite boasting one of Africa’s largest cattle populations, Nigeria’s milk output of 700,000 tonnes a year lags its annual consumption of 1.6 million tonnes.
This shortfall means Nigeria imports around 60% of its milk.
Idi Maiha said the goal is ambitious but achievable; to double Nigeria’s milk production from 700,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes annually in the next five years.
Maiha said Nigeria’s cattle population, exceeding 20 million, consists largely of low-yield pastoralist breeds.
“A Nigerian farm has already imported over 200 heifers from Denmark, building its herd through intensive breeding,”
So far, eight new pasture species have been registered, the first in 48 years, and a national strategy for animal genetic resources with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization has been launched, he said.
“With over 20.9 million cattle, 60 million sheep, and 1.4 million goats already, we are not starting from zero, we are building from strength,” the minister said.
Stunting, in addition to an increased risk of death, is also linked to poor cognitive development, a lowered performance in education and low productivity in adulthood – all contributing to economic losses estimated to account for as much as 11 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
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