Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has set out new plans to grow the livestock sector, fix infrastructure gaps, improve market access and draw fresh investment into the state.
He revealed that the State invested 10 million Euros in 2023 to establish modern Arla Farms in Damau, located in Kubau Local Government Area. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr AbdulKadir Muazu Meyere, during the Arla-Dano Open Day on Wednesday, the 29th of October, 2025, said Arla Farms is working toward “a 4–5 million kg milk output target at full capacity annually.”
The Governor said local milk production has already increased, with both direct and indirect employment opportunities created since operations began. He noted that his administration has developed a strong structure to support future growth in agriculture through the Kaduna State Livestock Regulatory Authority (KADLRA), the Kaduna State Livestock Transformation Company and the Kaduna Ranch Development Company.
He welcomed the unveiling of “the Nigeria Dairy Center of Excellence, the Sedentarization and Climate change Resilience in Nigeria (SCREEN) Project, as well as commissioning of a yoghurt factory.” According to him, “the initiatives will complement the efforts of his administration in empowering smallholder farmers by equipping them with modern techniques and technologies to improve milk yield and quality as well as and supporting local milk sourcing, which translates into more income for our farmers, more jobs for our youth, and more nutritious products for our people.”
He expressed optimism that the collaboration behind the Damau Milk Farm Project will boost economic activities along the dairy value chain, with Kaduna State leading the way.
At the event, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said Arla Farms is a direct result of the Federal Government’s policy on local content development and backward integration. Standing in for President Bola Tinubu, he praised the Federal Government, the Kaduna State Government and Arla for what he described as a win-win partnership.
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He drew attention to Nigeria’s low milk production, pointing out that the country produces only about 0.7 million litres annually, far below what is needed to meet the nutritional demands of its population. He added, “Our average per capita consumption of 8.7 million litres of milk per year is not only well below the global average but also alarmingly lower than the World Health Organisation’s recommended intake of 210 litres per person annually. At the farm level, the productivity gap is just as stark; the average milk yield of our indigenous cows is only 0.5 to 1.5 litres per day, compared to the global average of 6.6 litres. Furthermore, the country spends over $1.5 billion annually importing milk and dairy products, despite having millions of cattle and capable producers. This is a paradox that we must correct.”
The Minister said the Ministry of Livestock Development was created to unlock the full potential of the livestock value chain, reduce dependence on dairy imports, address farmer-herder conflicts and improve nutrition and prosperity for citizens. According to him, these goals are already becoming visible through investments such as Arla Farms and ongoing reforms.
He stated that Damau is fast becoming Nigeria’s dairy hub, hosting Arla Farm, the Damau Household Milk Farm and other dairy development projects. The Damau Household Milk Farm is a Kaduna State Government project executed in partnership with investors and development agencies. The plan includes the settlement of 1,000 households and provision of improved cows, quality pasture, veterinary services and basic social amenities. Arla serves as the off-taker, buying milk directly from the farmers.
To support local capacities, the Danish Government is funding two dairy programmes aimed at improving skills and livelihoods. The first, Partnership for Green and Productive Dairy in Nigeria, promotes climate-resilient dairy practices among Damau farmers. The second, “Sedenterization and Climate Change Resilience in Nigeria,” focuses on documenting lessons from the Damau Household Milk Farm.