- Chicken sales slump despite price cuts nationwide
- Poultry farmers hit by low purchasing power
- Feed costs, inflation worsen farmers’ losses
- Christmas sales fail to rescue poultry industry
Poultry farmers across Nigeria are counting heavy losses this festive season as chicken sales crash, leaving markets flooded with live birds but few or no buyers, despite noticeable price reductions.
Across major markets, roadsides and neighbourhoods this Christmas, live chickens filled cages and car boots, yet traders complained of weak patronage, a sharp contrast to previous festive seasons.
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The situation has deepened the hardship facing the poultry industry, which has struggled for over a year with rising feed costs, high fuel prices, inflation and economic pressures linked to current government policies. Many farms have shut down completely, while others now operate at minimal capacity or have exited the business altogether.
Earlier this year, a crate of eggs sold for between ₦1,500 and ₦1,700, but now goes for as much as ₦6,000 to ₦7,000. Live chickens that once sold for ₦10,000 climbed above ₦30,000, before recent price cuts forced by poor demand.
A market survey showed that just weeks ago, mature broilers sold for ₦30,000 to ₦35,000, Noilers for about ₦20,000, and old layers between ₦12,000 and ₦14,000. But low customer turnout pushed prices down further.
At a market in Fagba, Lagos, broilers previously priced at ₦35,000 now sell for about ₦25,000, a trend repeated in many cities across the country.
Despite the reductions, buyers remain scarce.
In markets across Lagos and Ogun states,including Oko-Oba, Agege, Oja-Oba, Ile-Epo, Iyana-Ipaja, Oshodi, Sango, Arigbajo and Ifo, chickens sat unsold throughout the Christmas period.
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A poultry farmer in Ikorodu, Mr Samson Mathew, described the season as devastating.
“This year has been a nightmare. We survived by miracle and hoped December would help us recover, but sales were worse than expected. Even after cutting prices, customers did not come,” he said.
He added that last year’s higher prices did not stop buyers.
“In 2024, chickens sold for up to ₦45,000 and people still bought. Now prices are lower, but Nigerians simply don’t have the money. Many farmers may quit if feed costs keep rising,” Mathew warned.
At Oja-Oba Market, poultry trader Alhaja Bukunmi Odeyemi said even cheaper birds are not moving fast.
“Old layers are cheaper and usually sell well, but this year, I still have plenty unsold. Feeding them daily is now an extra burden. We couldn’t even restock like previous years,” she said.
Farmers and traders are hoping for a turnaround before the New Year, but many fear the damage has already been done.
