Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has disclosed that Arla farms has invested €10 million to establish a state-of-the-art dairy farm at the Damau Household Milk Farm, located in Kubau local government area of the state.

Speaking at the Arla-Dano Open Day on Wednesday, Governor Sani, represented by AbdulKadir Muazu Meyere, the Secretary to the State Government, said the investment is expected to produce between 4 million and 5 million kilograms of milk annually at full capacity.

He noted that the Arla project has already boosted local milk production and created both direct and indirect jobs since his administration assumed office.

The governor added that Kaduna State has developed a strong institutional framework to sustain and expand agricultural investments across the state.

“In the livestock subsector, we have established the Kaduna State Livestock Regulatory Authority (KADLRA), the Kaduna State Livestock Transformation Company, and the Kaduna Ranch Development Company, all designed to work in synergy,” he said.

Sani expressed delight at the unveiling of the Nigeria Dairy Centre of Excellence, the Sedentarization and Climate Change Resilience in Nigeria (SCREEN) Project, and the commissioning of a yoghurt factory, describing them as milestones that align with the state’s vision to empower smallholder farmers.

According to him, these initiatives will equip local farmers with modern dairy techniques to improve milk yield and quality while promoting local sourcing that translates into “more income for farmers, more jobs for youth, and more nutritious products for consumers.”

He emphasised that the multistakeholder partnership behind the Damau Milk Farm Project would drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s dairy value chain, with Kaduna State taking the lead.

Representing President Bola Tinubu at the event, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, minister of Livestock Development, said Arla’s investment aligns with the federal government’s backward integration and local content policy.

He commended both the federal and state governments, as well as Arla farms, for what he described as a “win-win collaboration,” but expressed concern that Nigeria still produces only about 0.7 million litres of milk annually, far below national demand.

“Our average per capita milk consumption of 8.7 litres per year is significantly lower than the World Health Organisation’s recommended 210 litres per person annually,” he said.

Maiha highlighted the productivity gap at the farm level, noting that local cows produce only 0.5–1.5 litres of milk per day compared to the global average of 6.6 litres.

He added that Nigeria spends over $1.5 billion yearly on milk and dairy imports despite having millions of cattle and capable local producers, a situation he described as “a paradox that must be corrected.”

The minister said the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development aims to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s livestock sector, reduce import dependence, and promote food security and economic growth.

“Today, that vision is taking shape through investments such as Arla Farm and the reforms we are already implementing,” he said.

Maiha also revealed that Damau is fast emerging as Nigeria’s dairy hub, housing key dairy initiatives such as the Arla Farm, Damau Household Milk Farm, and other dairy development projects.

He explained that the Damau Household Milk Farm project, initiated by the Kaduna State Government, involves settling 1,000 households and providing improved cows, pasture, veterinary services, and social amenities.

Arla serves as the off-taker for milk produced under the scheme, while the Danish government sponsors two complementary dairy projects, Partnership for Green and Productive Dairy in Nigeria and Sedentarization and Climate Change Resilience in Nigeria, to enhance climate-resilient milk production and document the project’s impact.

Source: Business Day