As Nigeria grapples with rising violence in the North-Central region, largely tied to herder-farmer conflicts, the shift toward ranching by 11 states presents a critical opportunity, not only to restore peace but also to fix the country’s deepening milk deficit. The time for action is now, not more rhetoric.

With continuous bloodshed linked to nomadic cattle grazing, ranching has emerged as the most viable and sustainable solution to both Nigeria’s escalating security crisis and its struggling dairy sector. Fortunately, several state governments have indicated readiness to implement this system. However, only decisive and immediate execution will yield the much-needed transformation.

Recently, the Federal Government took emergency steps to prevent a looming milk crisis by importing high-yield dairy cattle from Denmark. This swift intervention highlights the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s nutritional and economic vulnerabilities tied to insufficient milk production.

Nigeria’s Dairy Paradox

At present, Nigeria produces just 700,000 tonnes of milk each year, while national consumption stands at 1.6 million tonnes. Consequently, the country imports roughly 900,000 tonnes annually—approximately 60 percent of its total dairy needs. This import dependency costs Nigeria an estimated $1.5 billion per year, a financial strain the nation can ill afford.

Recognizing the alarming gap, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, has unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to double local milk production. According to Maiha, Nigeria already possesses a solid foundation with over 20.9 million cattle, 60 million sheep, and 1.4 million goats. The issue, however, lies not in numbers but in quality.

Quantity Without Quality: The Yield Crisis

Despite having one of the largest cattle populations globally, Nigeria continues to lag behind smaller nations in milk output. As of 2023, Nigeria ranked 16th worldwide and sixth in Africa by cattle population. Yet, this figure conceals an alarming reality.

Take the Netherlands, for instance. With only 3.7 million cattle—about one-sixth of Nigeria’s—Dutch farmers produce a staggering 14.7 billion litres of milk annually, compared to Nigeria’s paltry 527 million litres. In economic terms, the Netherlands earns nearly $10 billion from its dairy industry every year, while Nigeria spends close to $560 million annually importing milk and milk-based products. This glaring paradox demands urgent correction.

Why Nigeria’s Dairy Output Remains Low

According to research conducted by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), several key factors explain Nigeria’s low milk yield. For one, most cattle graze on native pastures that lack the nutrients needed for high milk production—especially during the dry season.

Additionally, pastoralists often do not have the financial capacity to provide supplementary feeds such as protein-rich concentrates, which are critical for boosting milk output. Seasonal shortages of forage further compound the problem, leaving cattle undernourished and milk production severely limited.

Equally troubling is the prevalence of outdated livestock management practices. Most herders still rely on traditional methods, without embracing modern breeding techniques such as artificial insemination or structured feeding regimes. Indigenous cattle, although hardy, yield far less milk than improved breeds. Constant migration of herds across long distances also exposes them to stress, diseases, and nutritional deficiencies, all of which undermine reproductive performance and milk production.

Why Ranching Must Replace Open Grazing

If Nigeria truly aims to become self-sufficient in dairy production, it must decisively abandon open grazing. Ranching provides the controlled environment necessary for modern livestock farming. It guarantees steady access to water, nutrient-rich fodder, veterinary care, and breeding services, which are essential for a productive dairy industry.

Allowing cattle to roam freely not only diminishes productivity but also fuels violent confrontations with farmers, causes massive environmental degradation, and undermines national peace efforts. The herder-farmer conflict, intensified by open grazing, has led to thousands of deaths across the country, displacing communities and threatening food security.

Despite the alarming statistics, many political leaders continue to minimize the threat posed by open grazing. This failure to act decisively has exacerbated Nigeria’s reliance on food imports, draining scarce foreign reserves and deepening nutritional deficiencies.

Turning Crisis Into Opportunity

The ongoing ranching initiative—if implemented fully—could be the turning point. By switching to structured livestock farming, Nigeria can not only curb insecurity but also unlock the vast economic potential of its dairy sector. Milk, when processed into products like yoghurt, butter, cheese, skim milk, and ghee, has extended shelf life and increased market value, providing numerous job opportunities across the supply chain.

Furthermore, with global demand for dairy products rising, Nigeria has the potential to become a regional exporter of milk-based goods. But this requires investments in infrastructure, farmer training, and modern production techniques.

Government’s Role: From Policy to Practice

Already, the Federal Government has shown some intent by importing high-yield dairy cattle and forming the Technical Sub-Committee on Domestic Crude Sales in Naira to strengthen local economic capacity. Now, that same boldness must be applied to livestock policy.

Nigeria must invest in:

• Breeding centers to improve cattle genetics.

• Fodder banks to address dry-season feed shortages.

• Cold-chain logistics to reduce post-harvest losses.

• Training programs to modernize animal husbandry.

In addition, robust monitoring and regulatory frameworks must be established to track ranching progress and enforce compliance.

Peace, Prosperity, and Protein

Ranching offers Nigeria a rare convergence of solutions—it delivers peace in the countryside, productivity in agriculture, and better nutrition nationwide. By ending open grazing, Nigeria can reclaim its economic dignity, protect its farmers, and become a hub of dairy innovation on the continent.

Indeed, the moment to act is now. The cost of inaction—continued violence, malnutrition, and billions lost to imports—is simply too high. If implemented with discipline, Nigeria’s ranching program could spark a dairy revolution, empowering communities, saving lives, and driving sustainable growth.