Massive Work Ongoing at NANTS Milk Factory in Abuja - The National Association of Nigerian Traders NANTS

The construction of the new state-of-the-art milk factory by the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) in Abuja is advancing rapidly. With support from ECOWAS and the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), the project has seen significant progress in recent months. In addition to the milk production facility, NANTS has introduced two key innovations: a grains milling plant for rice and maize, and a water production facility.

The initial purpose of the milk factory was to enhance the feeding of milking animals through improved fodder production. However, recognizing the challenges faced by women farmers in the Giri community, NANTS also constructed a milling facility to enable local grain processing. Women farmers previously had to travel long distances to Zuba, Madala, and Suleja to process their grains, which added to their expenses and effort. The new milling plant, built with NANTS’ funds, will reduce costs for the farmers and provide a reliable source of feed for the cows at the milk facility, making it a win-win for the community.

This initiative is expected to foster enterprise development, create employment opportunities for youth, increase income for women farmers, and ensure the sustainability of the project. The facility will help improve food production while also addressing community needs, especially for milling services, which were previously unavailable.

New Water Production Facility for University of Abuja Community

In line with NANTS’ commitment to innovation and promoting youth employment, the organization discovered another significant need within the surrounding communities, including the University of Abuja, where many students struggle to access clean, purified drinking water. Hygienically prepared water has been scarce, with students traveling long distances to find it, posing health risks.

Seeing this gap, NANTS expanded its vision to include a pure water production facility as part of the milk factory. The water production factory will not only serve the University of Abuja community but also contribute to public health by reducing the risks associated with consuming unsafe water. Similar to the milling facility, the water factory will create various jobs, from construction and fabrication to machine operators, drivers, distributors, and marketers.

Ongoing Progress and Project Completion Timeline

Despite challenges like inflation, the construction and fabrication work is progressing well. The building for the water production facility has been completed, and the installation of water production machines is the next step. To accelerate the pace, more labor has been introduced at the site, and the contractor has committed to completing the entire project by the end of December 2024.

The project is not only creating jobs but also addressing critical needs in the community, making it a significant step toward economic empowerment and sustainability.