Nigeria has 20 million cows, so why does it rely on imports? | DW News

Can Nigeria become a cow superpower? Back in July, President Bola Tinubu announced a new livestock development ministry. Now his government is planning to reposition cattle rearing as a critical sector. He's been holding consultations with industry stakeholders and traditional rulers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Nigeria is home to over 20 million cows, mostly owned by Fulani herders. It has the fourth largest cattle population in Africa and rearing livestock provides a livelihood for a third of Nigerias population. Nigeria's dairy market is valued at one and a half billion dollars.

But despite its size, almost 90 percent of local demand is met through imports.

So where does this all leave Nigeria's cattle herders? As it turns out, some of them are not too far from State House, where that high level meeting took place. But urban development, climate change and violence in rural areas are making it increasingly difficult for them to find enough grazing land. DW’s Fanny Facsar reports from the Nigerian capital.

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