Nigerians Drop Eggs from Menu as Prices Soar

Poultry farmers in Lagos are raising concerns over the declining demand for eggs, attributing the drop in sales to economic hardship, inflated retail prices, and shifting consumer priorities.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, Mr. Mojeed Iyiola, Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), said that despite eggs remaining one of the cheapest sources of protein, many Nigerians can no longer afford them due to low purchasing power.

“The decline in egg sales is not isolated to poultry farmers alone; it reflects the broader economic strain affecting most consumables in the market,” Iyiola said. “Families are prioritising other expenses, and for many, even affordable protein like eggs is becoming a luxury.”

According to him, a crate of eggs sells for less than N5,500 at the farm gate, but by the time it reaches the final consumer, the price often jumps to N6,000 or even N6,500. Iyiola blamed this sharp increase on what he described as the “greed” of retailers and middlemen.

“Retailers are adding excessive margins. A reasonable profit should be around N100 to N200 per crate, not N1,000. Sadly, the people doing the least work are making more money than the farmers themselves,” he said.

He also noted that although the cost of raw materials remains a concern, farmers are still managing to keep production going. He added that previous support from the Lagos State Government had helped to ease some of the burden, but that assistance is currently on hold.

“We’re hopeful for new palliatives to help cushion the impact of rising production costs,” Iyiola said.

Echoing similar concerns, Mr. Joel Oduware, a poultry processor, said the economic downturn is biting hard, not just in Nigeria but globally.

“Even with schools reopening—a time we usually expect egg consumption to rise—the numbers are still low. In fact, demand has dropped further in some parts of the North and other regions,” Oduware said.

He stressed that many Nigerians simply cannot afford to buy eggs in the quantities they once did, due to dwindling disposable incomes.

“To avoid waste, farmers might have to consider reducing prices slightly, but this is only possible if production costs can be brought down too,” he added.

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