By: Kemi Akinseye
Rising production costs and worsening inflation are pushing eggs — once considered the cheapest and most accessible source of protein in Nigerian homes — beyond the reach of millions of families, triggering fears of a growing nutrition crisis across the country.
Across households, eggs that once appeared regularly on breakfast tables are now rationed carefully or removed entirely from meals as prices continue to soar. In many markets, a crate of eggs now sells between N7,000 and N8,500, while individual eggs cost as much as N300, forcing struggling families to turn to cheaper but less nutritious alternatives.
For many parents, the development reflects the harsh realities of Nigeria’s economic crunch, where rising food prices, inflation, and declining purchasing power are shrinking household diets and threatening nutrition, particularly among children.
Fifteen-year-old Isioma recalled how eggs gradually disappeared from her family’s meals over the past three years. What was once a regular source of nourishment is now reserved for rare occasions.
“We no longer eat eggs the way we used to. At first, the quantity reduced, then eventually we stopped buying them entirely,” she lamented.
The situation is even more severe in larger households. Mrs Dorcas Nwankwo, a mother of seven, said eggs have become unaffordable for her family.
“We have completely stopped eating eggs. Even breakfast itself has become a luxury,” she said, adding that the family now depends on alternatives such as crayfish, dried fish, and cow skin to survive.
Although many Nigerians still consider eggs the cheapest available animal protein, the sharp increase in prices is making regular consumption difficult. Households are increasingly buying smaller quantities while stretching meals with carbohydrates such as rice, bread, and garri.
Industry stakeholders blame the crisis on mounting pressures within Nigeria’s poultry sector. Poultry farmers say the shortage of day-old chicks (DOCs), rising feed prices, energy costs, and transportation expenses are crippling production nationwide.
Chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria Lagos chapter, Mojeed Iyiola, warned that egg prices could soon climb to N10,000 per crate if urgent intervention is not introduced.
According to him, hatcheries are overwhelmed, with farmers facing waiting periods of up to six months before accessing chicks needed for production.
“The major issue now is the shortage of day-old chicks. Farmers cannot even book birds until December, and after delivery, it still takes several months before the birds begin laying eggs,” he explained.
Feed costs have also worsened the crisis. Animal nutrition experts estimate that poultry feed accounts for between 65 and 80 per cent of total production costs. Prices of maize and soybean — key ingredients used in poultry feed — have surged sharply amid supply shortages, transportation costs, and foreign exchange pressures.
Many poultry farmers say they are shutting down operations because sustaining production has become nearly impossible.
A Lagos-based poultry farmer, Tolulope Dramola, disclosed that she had completely stopped egg production after enduring persistent losses caused by expensive feed, unstable electricity supply, and fuel costs.
Nutritionists warn that the implications extend beyond food affordability to a growing public health concern. Clinical nutrition experts say eggs provide essential nutrients such as protein, vitamin B12, iron, and choline, which are critical for child growth and brain development.
According to nutritionist Fiyinfoluwa Odukoya, many low-income households are now shifting from balanced diets to “carbohydrate-heavy survival meals,” increasing the risk of malnutrition and stunted growth among children.
“Eggs used to be one of the most affordable and accessible proteins. What we are witnessing now is a silent nutrition crisis,” he said.
Nigeria’s annual egg production still falls significantly below national demand despite the country being one of Africa’s largest poultry producers. Industry estimates indicate that local supply satisfies only about 30 per cent of demand, leaving millions without adequate access to affordable protein.
While the Federal Government has announced plans to support the poultry industry through partnerships, investment initiatives, and interventions targeting feed and production costs, many farmers insist that the impact has yet to reach producers at the grassroots.
As inflation continues to erode household incomes, experts fear that the rising cost of eggs may deepen hunger, worsen malnutrition, and further widen the gap between nutrition needs and affordability for millions of Nigerians.
