Federal government intensifies public-private partnership drive as Minister Idi Muktar tours IDL’s integrated dairy facility, calling it “a centre of excellence.
Minister Touches Down in Plateau State for Dairy Sector Stakeholder Engagement
The federal government’s push to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported dairy products took a significant step forward recently, as the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar, visited Integrated Dairies Limited (IDL) in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria — the first stop in a broader stakeholder engagement tour of the country’s livestock sector.
The visit, which brought together the company’s management, dairy farmers, and key players across the dairy value chain, signalled a deepening commitment by the federal government to cultivate domestic capacity through strategic public-private partnerships.
We Are Exporting Jobs and Importing Poverty
At the heart of the minister’s address was a stark economic reality: Nigeria currently spends approximately $1.5 billion annually importing dairy and dairy products — a figure he described as both alarming and entirely avoidable.
He was equally direct about the solution: local production, supported by deliberate government partnership with businesses already operating in the dairy value chain. The minister reaffirmed that the ministry would work alongside IDL and any investor willing to commit to dairy farming to reverse the capital outflow and redirect it into domestic employment and economic development.
A "Grass to Glass" Operation That Impressed the Minister
Following the stakeholder session, the minister and his delegation conducted a hands-on tour of IDL’s facilities — including the dairy farm, milk processing plant, cattle breeding unit, and other key infrastructure. What he saw clearly left an impression.
“What I’ve seen today is a centre of excellence. By any standard, this is a very, very successful venture in the dairy sector in this country,” Minister Muktar said after the tour.
He was particularly struck by the fully integrated nature of IDL’s operations — a true grass-to-glass model that covers every stage of the dairy value chain:
- Pasture production — IDL grows its own animal feed
- Artificial insemination — the company manages its own breeding programme
- Animal rearing — cattle are bred and raised on-site
- Milk processing — fresh milk is processed at the facility
- Packaging, branding & marketing — products reach consumers under the IDL label
The facility currently has the capacity to process 85,000 litres of milk per week, a figure that underscores the scale of what is already being achieved on Nigerian soil.
IDL at the Vanguard of Nigeria's Dairy Future
For Integrated Dairies Limited, the minister’s visit is more than a vote of confidence, it is an affirmation that the model it has pioneered over the years is the template Nigeria needs to transform its livestock sector.
From pasture to processing plant, from cattle breeding to consumer shelves, IDL continues to demonstrate that with the right investment, the right partnerships, and the right commitment to local production, Nigeria does not need to spend $1.5 billion abroad for milk.
The dairy future of Nigeria is being built right here at home.
