In my Nara Smith era
Nigeria is spending $1.5 billion yearly on milk importation, but that might change soon
Good morning, Big Brains. If you’re lactose intolerant in Tinubu’s economy, you don’t know what God has done for you. I went to get my favourite milk in the supermarket last weekend, and I’m not even exaggerating when I say I sighed after seeing my receipt.
- Margaret
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Reading time ~ 5 mins
Let’s get into today’s edition:
Nigeria is spending $1.5 billion yearly on milk importation, but that might change soon
FG wants to train local artisans with federal funds
The Big Deal
Nigeria is spending $1.5 billion yearly on milk importation, but that might change soon
Being a Nigerian is such a unique experience because not every country can boast of spending $1.5 billion importing basic stuff like dairy products every year. Thankfully, someone in Aso Rock has finally looked at Nigeria’s milk importation bill and decided that something needs to change.
Instead of importing milk directly from other countries, the federal government is now planning to import dairy cattle from Denmark. In simpler words, we’ll be channelling our inner Nara Smith by making our milk from scratch, with the help of imported cattle.
The point of the new strategy, according to the Minister of Livestock Development Idi Maiha, is to increase Nigeria’s milk production from 700,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes annually in the next five years.
Minister Maiha also added that Nigeria's 20.9 million cows aren’t exactly the kind that produce quality dairy, which is why the government wants to import Danish cattle. If it all works out, we’ll no longer need to import 60% of our milk.
Why is this a big deal?
The average Nigerian might still be able to afford imported dairy products every now and then, but the lower class? Not so much. Right now, at least two million children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition in the country, and as a result, we now hold the global record for the highest number of children with stunted growth.
Stunting isn’t just about kids being shorter than average; it’s a long-term problem with serious consequences. We’re talking higher chances of early death, poor brain development, and poor academic performance.
These two million children are at risk of never reaching their full potential. And when you put all that together, you realise even the economy doesn’t stand a chance against the consequences. According to UNICEF, up to 11% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can vanish simply because children didn’t get proper nutrition early on.
If FG’s plan works, we’ll probably save $1.5 million annually, pour the saved funds into local production, and increase the distribution of affordable dairy products across the country by 2030. This could also put food on the local farmers’ table, as increased production typically means job creation.
But this ambitious goal still relies on importation. It could turn out to be an expensive mistake if not executed properly. Anyways, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for our peace of mind.
FG wants to train local artisans with federal funds
Every Nigerian deserves a taste of the national moimoi, and from the look of things, 100,000 artisans across the country are about to get their share.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Federal Government is making plans to train 100,000 artisans in 2025 as part of a broader plan to revive the economy through skill acquisition.
Dr Oluwatoyin Ogun, Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), said the strategy’s fancy name is “Skill-Up Artisan Super Programme,” and it’s brought to you by yours truly, President Bola Tinubu.
According to her, the president isn’t new to this kind of initiative. Last year, 29,000 people were trained to become artisans. But this new plan is slightly different, and it’s designed to upscale 100,000 existing artisans to international standards. Dr Ogun also mentioned that the secondary goal is to eliminate quackery by making sure artisans earn enough from their craft to take professionalism seriously.
If all goes according to plan, 2025 might just be the year Nigerian artisans finally start posting new certificates and licenses on LinkedIn with those “I’m thrilled to announce” captions that 9-to-5ers seem to have monopolised.
Coupled with the president’s decision to make technical colleges free for youths, this isn’t a bad move at all.
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This Week’s Big Question
“You’re campaigning for presidency in 2027, which Nigerian politician would you go to for advice?”
Daniel’s response - “You see how Tinubu is collecting allies like Thanos? That’s a political mastermind right there.”
You can also share your response here, and if it’s as interesting as Daniel’s, we’ll feature it in the next edition.
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Another one bites the dust...
Thursday, May 29, is always going to be remembered as a dark day for Mokwa town, Niger state, where a deadly flood has claimed over 200 lives.