Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani
By AMOS MATHEW, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming the livestock sector through partnerships, infrastructure development, and investment promotion.
Speaking at the Arla-Dano Open Day in Kaduna on Wednesday, the governor disclosed that Arla Foods has invested €10 million in establishing a state-of-the-art Arla Integrated Dairy Farm at Damau Household Milk Farm, located in Kubau Local Government Area, in 2023.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. AbdulKadir Muazu Meyere, Governor Sani said the farm is projected to produce 4 to 5 million kilograms of milk annually at full capacity.
According to him, the project has already led to a significant boost in local milk production and created hundreds of direct and indirect employment opportunities for residents.
“Our administration has built a strong institutional framework to ensure sustainability, expansion, and investment in the agricultural sector,” he said.
“In the livestock sub-sector, we have 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.”
Governor 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 key milestones in Kaduna’s dairy development drive.
He noted that the initiatives will empower smallholder farmers through access to modern techniques, improved breeds, and technology, thereby increasing milk yield and quality.
“These efforts will translate into more income for our farmers, more jobs for our youth, and more nutritious dairy products for our people,” the governor added. “We hope that the multi-stakeholder collaboration that birthed the Damau Milk Project will drive sustainable economic growth in the dairy value chain, with Kaduna State leading the way.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, described the Arla Farm as a major outcome of the Federal Government’s local content and backward integration policy in the agricultural sector.
He commended Arla, the Kaduna State Government, and other partners for the “win-win initiative,” noting that Nigeria’s dairy industry still faces significant productivity challenges.
“Nigeria produces only about 0.7 million litres of milk annually far below the national demand and the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of 210 litres per person yearly.
“Our indigenous cows yield only 0.5 to 1.5 litres of milk per day compared to the global average of 6.6 litres.” the minister said.
Maiha lamented that the country spends over $1.5 billion annually importing milk and dairy products despite having millions of cattle and capable producers, stressing that this “paradox” must be addressed through sustainable local production.
He said the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development underscores President Tinubu’s resolve to unlock the livestock value chain, reduce import dependence, mitigate farmer-herder conflicts, and enhance food security.
The minister further disclosed that Damau is fast emerging as Nigeria’s dairy hub, hosting key interventions such as the Arla Farm, Damau Household Milk Farm, and other dairy development projects.
He explained that the Damau Household Milk Farm, initiated by the Kaduna State Government, involves the settlement of 1,000 households and the provision of improved cattle, pasture, veterinary services, and other social amenities with Arla serving as the off-taker.
