Lagos Residents Dismiss PAN’s Claims of Falling Egg Prices

Residents of Lagos are challenging the Poultry Association of Nigeria’s (PAN) announcement that egg prices have dropped, insisting that the situation on the ground paints a different picture. According to PAN, farm gate prices have fallen by about 10 per cent, with a crate now costing between N4,800 and N5,000. But across Lagos markets, consumers report that the supposed reduction is not reflected in their daily purchases, as crates are still sold between N5,500 and N6,500, while a single egg costs around N250.

For many households, this reality has left them frustrated. In Egbeda, Mrs. Rose Brownson expressed disappointment, revealing that she still buys a crate of eggs for N5,800 to N6,000, with no sign of relief. In FESTAC, wholesaler Mrs. Esther Ikechukwu shed light on the price build-up, explaining that transport expenses, packaging, and transaction fees push the farm price of N5,100 to retail prices of as high as N6,500. She stressed that even cracked eggs often result in losses, further limiting wholesalers’ profit margins.

The ripple effect is being felt by food vendors and ordinary consumers alike. In Amuwo Odofin, Mrs. Charity Igwe, who sells cooked food, said her selling price depends strictly on what she pays in the market. With crates now at N5,600, she sells boiled eggs for N250 but warns that if the price rises to N6,000, she would have no choice but to raise it to N300. Other food sellers, she noted, are already adjusting prices upward just to stay afloat.

Despite PAN’s assurances, residents argue that the disparity between farm gate and market prices remains wide, leaving ordinary Lagosians to bear the brunt. As transportation, logistics, and other hidden costs keep pushing prices higher, the public insists that the much-publicized reduction in egg prices remains far from reality in their everyday lives IN.