Nigeria has been ranked first in Africa and second globally in terms of malnutrition prevalence.
The Federal Government revealed that more than 25 million children in Nigeria are afflicted by undernourishment and stunted growth.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima disclosed the statistics from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) during the launch of the National Dairy Policy in Abuja on Tuesday.
Shettima stressed the importance of dairy products in providing vital nutrients essential for proper growth, including vitamins, protein, magnesium, and calcium from infancy to adulthood.
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Despite the increasing demand, the dairy sector encounters challenges such as low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, and limited market access. Urgent comprehensive strategies are required to revamp the industry.
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The Vice President suggested investments by local and international firms, including FrieslandCampina WAMCO and Danone’s Fan Milk, in augmenting local milk production.
He also mentioned President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of these initiatives, emphasizing the need for continued investment and improved regulatory frameworks.
Furthermore, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, underscored the significant role of the dairy policy in enhancing food and nutritional security.
Abdullahi stressed the critical role of cooperatives globally and the necessity for substantial investment to promote growth and productivity.
Previous advancements in Nigeria’s dairy sector aimed to enhance local production, improve supply chains, and diminish dependency on imported dairy products, according to the Director of Animal Husbandry Services at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Winnie Lai-Solarin.
