The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) on Friday commenced the construction of a milk production factory in Giri, Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
Dr. Alan Sy-Traore, Director of Agriculture in the ECOWAS Commission, which partnered the initiative, commended NANTS for its partnership projects with the commission, emphasizing that the factory aligns with ECOWAS agricultural policies on the livestock value chain.
Mr. Ibilade Akeem, Deputy Director of Commercial Ruminant and Dairy Production at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, expressed the ministry’s readiness to strengthen its partnership with NANTS in meat and milk production, citing that the milk production factory aligns with the Federal Government’s food security program.
Dr. Ken Ukaoha, the National President of NANTS, revealed that the factory would be completed within 14 months, enhancing food security and national economic development by producing hygienic milk. Ukaoha stressed the need to address challenges in the dairy sector, including inefficiency, lack of technical expertise, outdated practices, and climate-induced desertification, which has led to conflicts between herders and farmers.
NANTS, with support from ECOWAS and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, aims to modernize and revitalize the milk sector, showcasing its value chains as opportunities for job creation and sustainable livelihoods. The project will improve production, processing, handling, transportation, and marketing of milk while ensuring compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations.
Once completed, the project will also serve as a training ground for students at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja, and other relevant institutions in the region, contributing to job creation and youth empowerment. The initiative is expected to become a model for milk sector productivity in Nigeria and will encompass food production and training for young people.
Local authorities and community leaders welcomed the project, recognizing its potential to provide job opportunities and economic benefits to the area.
