Arla Foods invested €10m to establish Kaduna dairy farm, says Uba Sani

Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, says his administration will transform the state’s livestock sector through investment and market access.

Speaking at the Arla-Dano Open Day held on Wednesday, the governor said Arla Foods has invested €10 million in the Damau Household Milk Farm located in Kubau LGA.

Sani, who was represented by AbdulKadir Meyere, secretary to the state government, said the farm targets an annual milk output of 4–5 million kilogrammes at full capacity.

He noted that local milk production has increased since the establishment of the Arla Farm, creating direct and indirect jobs in the process.

“Our administration has put in place strong institutional frameworks to ensure sustainability, expansion, and investment in the agricultural sector,” the governor said.

He listed some of the state’s livestock institutions to include 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.

Sani also expressed delight at the unveiling of the Nigeria Dairy Centre of Excellence, the Sedentarisation and Climate Change Resilience in Nigeria (SCREEN) project, and the commissioning of a yoghurt factory.

He said the initiatives would empower smallholder farmers with modern techniques and technology to improve milk yield and quality while supporting local milk sourcing.

“These projects translate into more income for our farmers, more jobs for our youth, and more nutritious products for our people,” he added.

Sani expressed optimism that the collaboration that birthed the Damau Milk Farm project would spur sustainable economic growth in Nigeria’s dairy value chain “with Kaduna state taking the lead”.

TINUNU HAILS ARLA INVESTMENT

President Bola Tinubu said the Arla project reflects the federal government’s policy on local content and backward integration.

Tinubu, who was represented by Idi Maiha, minister of livestock development, commended the Kaduna government, Arla Foods, and other partners for such “win-win initiative”.

The president lamented that Nigeria currently produces only about 0.7 million litres of milk annually — far below the volume needed to meet national demand.

“Our average per capita consumption of 8.7 million litres per year is not only below the global average but also far less than the World Health Organisation’s recommended intake of 210 litres per person annually,” he said.

“The average milk yield of our local cows is 0.5 to 1.5 litres per day, compared to the global average of 6.6 litres.

“Meanwhile, Nigeria spends over $1.5 billion annually importing milk and dairy products despite having millions of cattle. This paradox must be corrected.”

He said the new ministry was created to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s livestock value chain, reduce import dependence, mitigate farmer-herder conflicts, and ensure better nutrition and prosperity.

Tinubu added that the Damau Household Milk Farm — initiated by the Kaduna government — involves the settlement of 1,000 households with access to improved cows, pastures, veterinary services, and basic amenities.