The Kwara State Government has unveiled a livestock industrialisation agenda aimed at transforming Nigeria’s animal production sector into a projected $70bn economy while reducing the country’s dependence on imported dairy products valued at over $1.5bn annually.

The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, disclosed this on Wednesday in Ilorin during the 2026 Press Week organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kwara State Council.

Speaking at the event, the commissioner described the livestock sector as a major economic driver capable of boosting industrial growth, creating jobs and strengthening food security.

“The livestock industry is no longer just about traditional animal rearing or husbandry. It is now a strategic economic sector and indeed one of the most promising sectors in Nigeria,” she said.

Oloruntoyosi explained that the state government was aligning its livestock agenda with the agricultural reform efforts of President Bola Tinubu and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“I must specially commend President Bola Tinubu for his bold vision and commitment towards repositioning the livestock sector as a major driver of economic growth,” she added.

The commissioner said Kwara was shifting from subsistence livestock production to a modern commercial and industrial model designed to attract investment and improve productivity.

“What we are trying to do is move beyond subsistence livestock production into a fully commercialised and industrialised sector,” she stated.

She expressed concern over Nigeria’s growing dairy deficit, noting that local production of about 600,000 metric tons remains far below the estimated national demand of 1.7 million metric tons.

“This dependence weakens our economy, drains foreign reserves, and limits local industry growth. We are therefore prioritising strategic efforts to enhance domestic dairy production,” she said.

According to her, Kwara is targeting the production of about 100,000 metric tons of milk with an estimated economic value of $150m.

“We can target 100,000 metric tons, projecting about 150 million dollars into our economy,” she said.

The commissioner disclosed that the state’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, SAPZ, was being developed into a modern agricultural hub equipped with roads, power supply, water systems, cold storage facilities, abattoirs, veterinary clinics and quarantine zones.

“The SAPZ hub will provide an enabling environment with infrastructure such as roads, power supply, water facilities, cold storage systems, abattoirs, veterinary clinics, quarantine zones, and other industrial support services. It will become a modern agricultural industrial city,” she explained.

She added that the processing zone would support value-added dairy production, including butter, cheese, yoghurt, powdered milk and ice cream.

“In 2023, butter imports into Nigeria were valued at $310m. If we capture just 10 per cent of that market in Kwara, it translates to over $31m in economic value,” she estimated.

Oloruntoyosi further revealed that multinational dairy companies such as Danone, Fan Milk and FrieslandCampina already have systems in place to absorb increased local milk production.

“We have yoghurt companies in Kwara that require fresh cow milk. We also have major partners like Danone, Fan Milk, and Friesland that are ready to absorb as much milk as we can produce,” she said.

On meat production, the commissioner said Nigeria’s rising import bill for processed meat products presents investment opportunities for local producers.

“In 2023, Nigeria imported about $10.1m worth of sausages. Capturing even 10 per cent of this market would significantly boost Kwara’s economy,” she said.

She encouraged youths and women to take advantage of opportunities in livestock farming, saying modern production methods and improved breeds could deliver substantial profits.

“With 10 cows producing improved yields of about 15 litres per day, farmers can earn over N97,000 daily, and the returns increase significantly with scale,” she explained.

The commissioner also urged livestock producers to register with the ministry and recognised associations to access government support and business opportunities.

“The market has already been created. We encourage youths, women, and producers to register with the ministry and join organised associations to access support and scale up their businesses,” she added.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel in Kwara State, Biola Azeez, described the Press Week as an opportunity to reflect on journalism practice and the changing demands of the digital era.

Other speakers at the event commended journalists for sustaining public attention on insecurity and development issues across the state.

The event concluded with renewed calls for stronger collaboration between the media, government and private sector to unlock the economic potential of the livestock industry in Nigeria.