Consumers fault poultry farmers over reported slash in egg prices

Residents across Lagos State have dismissed claims by the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) that egg prices have been slashed, saying the commodity remains expensive in local markets.

PAN recently announced a 10 per cent reduction in the farm gate price of eggs, from N5,000 to between N4,800 and N5,000 per crate.

However, checks by the News Agency of Nigeria revealed that a crate still sells between N5,500 and N6,500 in many markets, while a single egg goes for about N250.

Mrs. Rose Brownson, a resident of Egbeda, said there had been no drop in prices in her area.

“The cost of eggs has not dropped in recent months; it only gets more expensive. We still buy a crate between N5,800 and N6,000, and a single egg sells for N250. There has been no noticeable change,” she said.

At FESTAC, a wholesaler, Mrs. Esther Ikechukwu, explained that the costs from the farm gate to the point of sale often inflate prices.

“The farm price is N5,100 per crate, but we pay an extra N200 per crate for transportation. By the time it gets to us, it’s about N5,300, and we still incur costs for delivery to our shops.

“I sell at N5,700, while others sell between N6,000 and N6,500,” she said.

Ikechukwu added that costs such as packaging, data for transactions, and cracked egg losses also affect pricing.

“Cracked eggs are sold at N500 for three pieces or N4,500 per crate, and we hardly make any profit from them. Retailers tend to gain more than wholesalers,” she said.

Mr. Oriafo Oseme, a consumer in Alimosho, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “I still bought a crate at N6,000 a few days back.

“This talk of a price slash seems like a myth. If there has been a drop at the farm gates, it should reflect in what we pay.”

A cooked food vendor in Amuwo Odofin, Mrs. Charity Igwe, said her selling price depends on the purchase cost.

“We buy a crate at N5,600 and sell a boiled egg for N250. When the price rises to N6,000, I sell for N300. Most cooked food traders now sell at N300 to break even,” she said.

Despite PAN’s assurances, Lagos residents say the purported reduction has yet to make an impact on their pockets.