Lagosians lament rising price of eggs, poultry produce

Residents across Lagos have complained of a consistent rise in the prices of poultry produce, especially eggs.

The residents spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

A resident of Alimosho, Mrs. Doris Nwigwe, said she was surprised at the weekly increment, which the retailers blamed on the hike in the cost of poultry raw materials.

“We buy eggs now for between N2800 and N3000 per crate. A month ago, we bought a crate of eggs for between N2000 and N2100.

“When we asked the reason for the increase, they said the price of bird feed was on the rise.

“We have no choice but to buy it at whatever price they give us; we are tired of the continuous increment,” Nwigwe told NAN.

On her part, Mrs. Cornelia Edet, a resident at Ogudu Axis, said pleading with the retailers to cut down on the price was always met with a negative response.

“In my area, the price of eggs ranges from N2,400 to N2500 and N2600, depending on the size.

“I recently bought the one at N2500 as it is reasonably sized, but I used to buy that size between N2300 and N2400.

“We are concerned over the constant increase in price of eggs, but the sellers insist that is how they get them from the farms.

“We have no choice but to buy it at whatever price because they are not even begging you to buy it,” Edet said.

Mrs. Gloria Eghogho, a resident of the Ojo area of the state, said, like every other agro-produce, eggs were pretty expensive.

“Eggs are pretty expensive now; it is like the price changes every other week.

“You are not sure of how much you will buy a crate the next time you shop.

“Eggs used to be the most affordable protein the average Nigerian could afford, but now they cost more than beef in the average restaurant.

“We really do not know how we got here,” Eghogho said.

In reaction to the residents’ complaints, Mr Mojeed Iyiola, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Lagos State Chairman, said the continuous increment in the price of raw materials should be blamed for the hike

“The rise in the price of poultry produce is of great concern to the association as well. We feel the plight of consumers too.

“However, the cost of materials in feed processing is on the increase on a daily basis.

“A month ago, a bag of maize sold for as much as N24,000 to N25,000, but presently it sells for over N30,000 per bag. The rate at which the price of maize keeps increasing is abnormal.

“The price of soya is relatively stable, while the price of other components like groundnut paste and fish meal is also on the rise.

“A month ago, we sought incentives from the federal government, but in comparison with the price on the open market, it is almost at par.

“Even the open market gave us a concession to pay for the maize a month after purchase,” Iyiola said.

According to him, the farmers prefer buying at the open market because of its quick delivery and because it is almost the same price as the government's incentives for maize.

“Presently, a bag of maize from the federal government incentives goes as high as N30,000 per bag (payment before delivery), while the open market sells at N31,000 (payment after delivery).

“The cost of eggs has gone beyond normal. At the farm gates, we sell for N2200 or N2300 per crate, depending on the size of the eggs.

“The average size of a crate of eggs is N2100, depending on the location. Retailers sell between N2500 and N3000,” he said.