•Stakeholders lament structural challenges, make recommendations
By Gabriel Ewepu
Amidst efforts to diversify Nigeria’s economy, there are indications that dominance of foreign imported livestock products has been extended.
Financial Vanguard’s findings from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, show that livestock and related products imports rose to N1.71 trillion in 2025, up by 14.5 per cent from N1.49 trillion in 2024.
Sector stakeholders said Nigeria is suffering from wide diary gap which necessitated imports to bridge the gap.
Financial Vanguard learnt that the country currently hosts 273 million animals but it is contending with about 60 percent diary gap.
The breakdown of the estimated 273 million animals shows goats dominating at a population of 138.95 million, sheep 64.93 million and cattle 54.81 million.
Poultry numbers is estimated at 250 million birds.  
Dairy gap fuels import surge
Further investigation showed that the dairy subsector remains the weakest link.
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