By Ogaga Ariemu
The National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, (MACBAN) Baba Ngelzarma has said that Nigeria spends nearly $1.7 billion annually in importing milk into the country.
He disclosed this during an interview with NAN where he called on the Federal Government to pay more attention to the dairy industry through budgetary allocation.
He added that livestock would boost Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, if properly harnessed.
According to him, “The livestock sector has not and never received the needed attention from the government; the only support we have gotten is vaccination of cow.
“The aspect of livestock production, marketing, transportation, processing among others is left in the hands of the pastoralists; the entire value chain of cattle is not harnessed by the government.
“Nigeria has the largest population of livestock compared with neighbouring countries, yet we produce lesser milk due to neglect of the sector.”
