With soaring production costs pushing retail egg prices to record highs, a nutritional staple is being fast-tracked into a luxury item, forcing millions of households to choose between their health and their wallets. VICTORIA NWACHUKWU reports that where eggs once came easily – boiled, fried or sandwiched in slices of bread – they are now used sparingly, measured not just by appetite but by cost. As this essential animal protein is thinning out of menus in Nigerian homes, so are pockets flattened, while the health of many bears the brunt.
Like many other children facing a similar plight, 15-year-old Isioma is deeply troubled by the gradual disappearance of eggs from the family’s dining table over the last three years. The teenager, who often accompanies her mother to the market, summarised her worries thus: “We no longer eat eggs as we used to before. Even when we do, the number is far less than what we used to cook; from several eggs in a meal, to fewer, and eventually to none.” Isioma, who is not alone in missing what used to be a regular part of her meals, described how the number of eggs in her home dwindled until they were finally taken off the menu. According to Isioma, who hails from a modest home, while meals with chicken were reserved for celebratory feasts and special occasions, including Christmas, Easter, birthdays, and sundry moments that stood out from everyday life, eggs have taken a similar route, becoming something to look forward to.
If having an egg in a meal has become a treat in Isioma’s small household, the strain is much more visible in Mrs Dorcas Nwankwo’s family, where soaring egg prices have turned it into a taboo in the household. “We are no longer eating eggs because it is out of our reach. So, what used to be routine has now disappeared and been replaced with cheaper alternatives.” She explained that with eggs selling for between N200 and N300, depending on the size, providing a household of seven eggs has become unrealistic. “Since the beginning of this year, I’ve not tasted egg; none of us has… In its place, we now rely on alternatives such as crayfish, Kpanla, and ponmo (cow skin), even though they, too, are becoming expensive. Breakfast, too, has become a luxury in our home.”
Even though eggs have not completely disappeared from the menu of average households, the way they are bought and used has changed immensely. The home of Mrs Judith Ifiok falls into this category, as the mother of three says the protein source is highly rationalised there. “From the shop where we used to buy three crates that would last us for a month, we now manage to buy two, and often adjust depending on the price and other competing needs at home,” she said. “If a crate of eggs (30 pieces) sells for above N7,000 in some cases, it makes it harder to maintain previous consumption levels, especially with the so-called new national minimum wage. With schools back in session, food demand in the house has increased, even though eggs are no longer as freely used as before,” she explained. Beyond eggs, Mrs Ifiok further lamented the prohibitive cost of other protein sources in the market, emphasising that the rising cost of other food items has made life hard.
Cheapest protein source disappearing from dining tables
FOR years, egg has been a key protein source in millions of Nigerian homes; a widely relied-on option that filled the gap, offering a relatively affordable portion when other alternatives proved too costly. That yeoman’s role, however, is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain as prices have climbed steadily across markets in recent months. Previously sold at N6,000 to N6,500 per crate at the retail level in parts of the country, the price has climbed to N7,000 to N8,500 (depending on the size) as scarcity intensifies nationwide. Market findings show that farm gate prices have climbed to about N5,500 per crate, up from N5,000 recorded in January (depending on size), while supermarkets and large grocery stores push prices as high as N8,500, reflecting added distribution and operating costs. From The Guardian’s findings, an egg that sold for N200 and N250 eight weeks ago is now selling for N300 in some locations. Interestingly, despite this increase, the demand for it is not waning as households, students, and small food vendors continue to buy it out of necessity.
The increase has now placed egg in a difficult position within the food hierarchy, making it less affordable, yet still cheaper than many other sources of animal protein. For many households, this development creates a dilemma: continue buying in smaller quantities, or begin phasing eggs out of regular meals altogether. In practice, many are doing both – cutting back while stretching what they can afford. Despite rising costs, eggs remain difficult to eliminate from daily consumption. Across different regions, traders say demand has not disappeared, but buying decisions are becoming more deliberate. Similar patterns are seen in Kaduna, Ibadan and Ogun States, as well as parts of the South-East, including Nsukka, in Anambra State, and in parts of Imo State, where eggs continue to sell steadily. Even at current prices, eggs still sit at the lower end of the protein price range compared to fish and meat, which require higher spending. But for many households, affordability is no longer guaranteed, and even this “cheapest” option is becoming harder to sustain on a regular basis.
A failing poultry pipeline
BEHIND the steady rise in egg prices are deeper pressures within the poultry ecosystem, where farmers say the challenges extend far beyond market demand to the cost and conditions of production. Nigeria’s poultry sector, one of the largest in Africa, plays a key role in food supply. However, the challenges facing the industry are hydra-headed, one of which is rising input costs, which are limiting its capacity to sustain stable output and have direct implications for egg availability and pricing. But the current major problem, which seems to be shaking the industry to its marrow, is the shortage of day-old chicks (DOC), which is considered the primary driver of the supply squeeze. Some farmers say the pressure is now shifting, alongside rising costs that are making it increasingly difficult for farmers to restock their farms.
The Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State, Mojeed Iyiola, told The Guardian that with the development, a crate of eggs may hit N10,000 soon, unless drastic measures are taken to address the challenges. He said: “The major reason for the current price hike and the looming scarcity of eggs is that most old layers have been sold off, especially during the festive season, and poultry farmers currently have no access to DOCs. It’s the lack of day-old chicks (DOC) that’s driving the nationwide egg shortage. DOC is very tight; while booking of DOCs can take up to almost five months to take delivery of the birds, it will take another five months before the birds start laying. This will surely impact egg availability. Poultry farmers currently have no access to DOCs. We cannot book for DOCs till December. All the hatcheries have been fully booked, even our national body has tried to intervene in this matter.”
Iyiola added that the high cost of fuel also contributes to the price surge, as transporting the eggs from the farm gate, including the cost of broken eggs, further increases the price. “Initially, we were thinking that hatcheries were exporting their DOCs because of the hard currencies they were earning, but that’s not the case now. When farmers go to the hatcheries to book DOCs, aside from unavailability each week, prices also go up. From N1,800 last year, it is now N3,300, and when farmers make their bookings, they are given a five to six-month waiting period before delivery. Then, the farmers will incur more costs to rear the DOCs for another four or five months before they start laying,” Iyiola said.
While the rising cost of feed has forced many farmers to abruptly close their businesses, those who have struggled to stay afloat are recording losses due to a lack of patronage. According to statistics from the PAN, in the first half of 2024 alone, over 30 per cent of farms shut down across Nigeria, and since then, almost daily, farmers have been deserting the industry for other lucrative businesses. The Guardian investigations revealed that, though the farmers have been facing a tough time since the economic policies introduced by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration took effect on May 29, 2025, the 50 per cent monthly hike in maize prices introduced by the government worsened their plight. The Federal Capital Territory Chapter of PAN, which also alleged that eggs may hit N10,000 per crate, said that the Federal Government must, as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency on egg production, given the serious decline in protein intake, saying Nigerians cannot afford to depend on the importation of eggs.
A poultry farmer based in Lagos, Tolulope Dramola, the Founder of Menitos Farms, while regretting the current situation of the industry, told The Guardian that the industry’s misfortune might worsen, noting that she was forced to stop egg production completely because it is no longer sustainable. “From the cost of day-old chicks to the cost of feeds, to incessant electricity grid collapse, it has been ‘stubbornness’ that has kept us going. During a power grid failure, we lost about 30kg of birds, despite running on fuel. Fuel can’t keep the stock frozen; it just keeps it cold, and most customers want it frozen so it can withstand the transportation interval. So, the lingering challenges of breeding the birds are always worsened by power problems in the country, which have resulted in huge financial losses.”
Also at the centre of this pressure is poultry feed, which industry stakeholders describe as the single most significant input in egg production. Animal Nutritionist Ndifreke Ekanem explained that feed accounts for between 65 and 75 per cent of total production costs, making it the most critical factor in determining egg prices. According to her, the cost of feed has risen sharply due to increases in key raw materials such as maize and soybean, alongside supply chain disruptions and climate-related impacts on crop yields. She added that transportation and energy costs, as well as the rising prices of feed additives and premixes, many of which are imported, have further compounded the situation, particularly amid foreign exchange pressures. These combined factors, she noted, have significantly increased production costs, placing additional strain on farmers and driving up market prices.
The Director-General of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Onallo Akpa, also emphasised the importance of feed costs, noting that they account for between 70 and 80 per cent of the total cost of raising poultry. This, he explained, means that any increase in feed prices has a direct, immediate impact on production, leaving farmers with little flexibility and forcing price adjustments throughout the supply chain. Poultry farmer and egg supplier, Olalekan Babalola, said weather conditions have played a significant role, with extreme cold previously reducing water intake among birds and affecting reproduction, while current heat conditions are also limiting productivity, as birds tend to drink more but eat less. Another poultry farmer, Loveth Aguorah, noted that beyond rising feed costs, the quantity required to sustain production has also increased, with farmers needing more feed to maintain output – a shift that directly affects daily egg supply.
A nation running low on eggs
NIGERIA’S egg production remains significantly below demand, despite ongoing efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector. In 2024, data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) showed that Nigeria produced about 650,000 tonnes of eggs, equivalent to roughly 10-11 billion eggs per year. However, industry estimates, including figures from the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), put annual output at about 15.8 billion eggs, from a bird population estimated at roughly 180 million. Despite this level of production, a substantial gap persists. Livestock research indicates that local egg supply meets only about 30 per cent of national demand. Consumption levels further highlight the shortfall. Indeed, estimates suggest that each Nigerian consumes about 60 to 80 eggs per year, a figure significantly below global nutrition benchmarks, which typically range from 150 to 170 eggs per person. With Nigeria’s population estimated at over 200 million, meeting recommended consumption levels would require roughly 30 to 40 billion eggs annually, far above current production.
The Federal Government, which has stepped up efforts to address rising poultry prices in recent months, said it was targeting key cost drivers, including feed, energy and production inputs, as part of measures to stabilise prices and improve supply. It has also called for data-driven interventions, directing the PAN to submit a comprehensive inventory of hatcheries nationwide to guide policy decisions. Among recent proposals is a multi-million-dollar poultry development partnership between Nigeria and China, projected to produce up to six million eggs daily through integrated farms combining hatcheries, feed mills, and crop production. The proposal has also drawn reactions from industry stakeholders, including the PAN, which raised concerns that the initiative could negatively affect local producers if not properly implemented. The Federal Government has also acknowledged broader structural challenges in the sector. In its National Agri-Food Systems Investment Plan (2026–2027), it highlighted issues such as high production costs, weak value chains and low productivity. However, farmers and hatchery operators say production challenges, including high input costs and limited chick supply, remain significant, and the impact of these efforts has yet to be widely felt at the farm level.
Inflation forces shrinking plates
THE steady rise in egg prices is unfolding amid broader economic pressure. Nigeria’s inflation rate, which climbed to over 33 per cent in 2024, has since slowed following a recent rebasing by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). But for many households, that shift has made little difference because food prices remain high, and basic items, especially within the food basket, are still stretching budgets. A development economist and Chairman of the Board, ACUF Initiative for Policy and Governance, Prof. Chiwuike Uba, said the persistence of high egg prices reflects deeper structural pressures within the food system, rather than short-term market fluctuations. He said that while inflation slowed to 15.06 per cent, this does not mean prices are falling; it only means they are rising more slowly. “For essential items like eggs to remain expensive, it reflects deeper structural pressures in the food system,” he said, pointing to rising feed costs driven by maize and soybeans prices, which have surged by over 30 per cent in the past year, as well as high energy and transportation costs and the effects of currency volatility on imported inputs. Comparing current prices to a year ago, he said eggs have risen by about 30 to 35 per cent, a rate significantly higher than headline inflation, underscoring the extent to which supply-side constraints continue to shape food costs. The implication, he noted, is that households are still under significant pressure, even as broader economic indicators suggest some relief.
Similarly, a professor and Head of Department of Economics, University of Ibadan, Adeola Adenikinju, said that rising food prices are increasing the overall cost of living and reducing household welfare, particularly where incomes have not kept pace with inflation. He noted that because food remains a necessity, households are often forced to continue spending despite higher prices, a pattern that further strains already stretched budgets.
Uneasy alternatives
AS egg prices rise, households are adjusting not only how often they consume them, but what they replace them with. However, alternatives are not necessarily cheaper. Average-sized frozen fish such as mackerel (Titus or Kote) now sells for between N2,000 and N5,000; Croaker fish sells for between N5,000 and N7,000 in many markets, smaller fish like frozen herring (Shawa) range from about N1,200 to N2,000 and smoked fish about N2,000 to N6,000, depending on size, quantity and location. Meat and cow skin, often bought in small portions, can cost between N1,500 and N4,000 for a household meal. Faced with these prices, many households fall back on staples such as beans, rice and bread. While these options help stretch meals, nutrition experts warn they may not provide adequate protein, signalling a shift towards affordability over dietary balance.
An Osogbo, Osun State-based housewife, Mrs Lola Jacob, confirmed that, with the price surge, she will eventually be forced to look for an alternative to eggs, adding that, since the prices of meat and fish increased, the family took solace in egg consumption. She said: “The children have developed a liking for eggs, at least we usually buy as many as 15 pieces a week, but with this price surge, we may need to reconsider the consumption of fish or meat, at least to minimise the cost of food.” A teacher, Mrs Ibidun Omilegan, who also regretted the price surge, said it would automatically affect all egg lovers, adding that the family might be forced to cut down egg consumption because of the price increase.
The hidden nutrition crisis
BEYOND rising costs and shifting consumption patterns, nutrition experts warn that changes in everyday diets carry deeper health implications, particularly for vulnerable groups. Eggs, long regarded as one of the most accessible sources of animal protein, also provide essential micronutrients critical for growth and development. Clinical nutritionist and public health advocate, Fiyinfoluwa Odukoya, said eggs have traditionally played a vital role in the Nigerian diet, particularly because of their accessibility and nutritional value. “Eggs play a very vital role. Before now, eggs were among the most affordable sources of protein. This is because eggs are one of the most convenient and accessible types of protein, and beyond that, they fill micronutrient gaps such as vitamin B12, choline and iron, which are needed for children’s development and brain health,” he said. However, he noted that rising prices are now forcing households to reduce consumption, with many shifting from regular to occasional use, while others turn to cheaper, lower-quality substitutes or carbohydrate-heavy meals.
“There is a change in dietary pattern, which means that there is reduced protein intake. What we are seeing is a silent transition from a protein-inclusive diet to a carbohydrate-heavy survival diet,” he said. He warned that this shift is already affecting nutritional outcomes, particularly among children and low-income households, where access to consistent, high-quality protein is becoming less certain. While calorie intake may remain high, the lack of adequate protein increases the risk of malnutrition, stunting and other growth-related concerns, reflecting a broader public health challenge.
For Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist (RDN) Blessing Ibitayo, the shift goes beyond changing eating patterns to a widening gap between what the body requires and what households can afford. According to her, the recommended protein intake for a healthy adult is about 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight daily, meaning a 60kg adult requires roughly 48 grams per day, a level many carbohydrate-heavy meals fall short of providing. She noted that meals built around staples such as rice, garri, or yams, when consumed without adequate protein, often deliver significantly less than the required amount. Ibitayo, who explained that eggs remain one of the most effective ways to bridge this gap due to their high biological value and complete amino acid profile, however, noted that rising prices have reduced consumption, with some households now sharing a single egg among multiple people, limiting individual intake.
She added that for most people, consuming at least one egg daily, and up to two if there are no health issues, can help meet basic protein needs. To manage rising costs, she advised households to focus on combining affordable, locally available foods to improve protein intake, emphasising that adding small portions of protein such as eggs, beans, soy products or small fish to meals can significantly improve nutritional quality, even when resources are limited. She also recommended prioritising one or two meals daily with a solid protein source rather than aiming for perfection across all meals. “The goal is not perfection,” she said, “it is consistency with what is realistic in the household.”
