President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to achieving self-sufficiency in dairy production and livestock development, emphasizing that Nigeria must bridge its widening milk deficit through innovation, partnership, and sustained investment.
Speaking at the 2025 Arla-Dano Open Day held at Arla Farms, Damau, Kaduna State, the President described the event as a milestone in the Federal Government's pursuit of a sustainable agricultural future anchored on food security, job creation, and economic diversification.
Tinubu lamented that Nigeria currently produces only 0.7 million litres of milk annually—far below national demand and the World Health Organisation's recommended 210 litres per person per year.
"Our country spends over $1.5 billion annually importing milk and dairy products despite having millions of cattle and capable producers. This is a paradox we must correct," he said.
The President commended Arla Foods and its partners for their investment in modern dairy farming, noting that it aligns with the government's backward integration policy and the Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to boost local production and empower farmers.
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He highlighted the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development as a decisive step toward unlocking the livestock value chain, mitigating herder-farmer conflicts, and promoting rural prosperity.
Tinubu praised Kaduna State and Arla Foods for transforming Damau into Nigeria's emerging "dairy hub," supported by projects such as the Damau Household Milk Farm and Danish-funded climate-resilient initiatives designed to train local producers and enhance productivity.
He disclosed that Nigeria has attracted a $2.5 billion investment commitment to establish six modern meat-processing factories—three for poultry, two for beef, and one for pork—within the next five years. The President also cited the EU-funded €18.3 million VACE TARED project, which promotes climate-smart agriculture and supports value chains in livestock, cocoa, ginger, tomato, and cassava.
Reaffirming his administration's unwavering focus on food security, Tinubu assured that the government would continue to create an enabling environment for agribusiness through the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS).
He urged investors, farmers, and young Nigerians to see the dairy sector as a pathway to national prosperity, innovation, and better nutrition.
