Poultry farmers in Nigeria are raising concerns about a potential surge in egg prices, with projections suggesting a significant increase from the current N5,500 to as much as N10,000 per crate.
The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) attributes the expected price hike to rising transportation costs following the removal of fuel subsidies and the sharp increase in feed prices.
At a press conference in Abuja to mark World Egg Day, Musa Hakeem, Secretary of PAN’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, urged the government to declare a state of emergency in the egg production sector.
He warned that without urgent government intervention, the price hike would become inevitable, further exacerbating the decline in protein consumption among Nigerians.
“The proportional rise in production costs points to a price of N10,000 per crate, but we have kept prices at N5,500 out of consideration for consumers,” Hakeem explained. He also criticized the government’s lack of support for the poultry industry, stating that the last grain assistance to farmers was received three years ago.
Agro dealer Jude Arikogu echoed the concerns, highlighting issues related to the quality and quantity of poultry feed. He noted that some 25kg bags of feed often fall short of the specified weight, adding to the burden on farmers already struggling with rising operational costs.
The poultry industry’s warning underscores the need for immediate government action to stabilize the sector and ensure that essential protein sources remain accessible to Nigerians.
