Nigeria is seeking to transform its poultry industry by targeting an annual production of 262 million day-old chicks, as the government moves to address persistent shortages, strengthen local breeding capacity and reduce reliance on imported poultry breeding materials.
The ambitious target was announced by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, during the 2026 Nigeria Poultry Show held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
As part of immediate efforts to ease the shortage, the Federal Government is working with the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) to import approximately 60 million hatchable eggs. The intervention is intended to increase chick availability, shorten delivery delays and help farmers maintain consistent production schedules.
Maiha, who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser, Richard Umbara, said the government recognised the difficulties poultry farmers were experiencing in accessing day-old chicks.
Some producers reportedly wait for as long as four months after placing orders and making payments before receiving their chicks. Such delays disrupt production cycles, affect business planning and make it difficult for farmers to meet market demand.
The planned importation is expected to bring the waiting period down to approximately one month, giving producers a more predictable supply of chicks as they plan their operations.
Beyond the short-term intervention, the government is also considering the introduction of grandparent breeding stock to improve Nigeria’s domestic breeding capacity. This is expected to support the long-term ambition of producing 262 million day-old chicks annually and reduce the industry’s exposure to external supply disruptions.
However, poultry industry leaders say increased chick production must be accompanied by investment in other areas that determine the sector’s competitiveness.
Speaking at the event, Oluleye Olugbeja, South-West Zonal Chairman and National Vice President of PAN, called on federal and state governments to provide affordable long-term financing, improve farm security and involve industry players when developing policies affecting poultry production.
He warned that policies introduced without adequate consultation could create challenges for farmers and undermine business operations. He urged authorities to work more closely with producers to ensure regulations respond to the realities of the industry.
Access to affordable finance remains another major concern, particularly for farmers seeking to expand their operations or invest in modern production facilities.
The Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, represented by Durojaye David, put the value of Nigeria’s poultry industry at approximately N1.9 trillion, highlighting its importance to the country’s agricultural economy.
He noted that the industry’s performance is closely tied to the availability and cost of maize, soybean and sorghum, which essential ingredients in poultry are feed. Changes in the prices of these commodities have a direct impact on the cost of producing chicken meat and eggs, ultimately influencing consumer prices.
The bank is implementing financing interventions, including a N200 billion guarantee and minimum-price programme targeting maize, sorghum and soybean production, to strengthen agricultural value chains and improve the availability of key feed ingredients.
Meanwhile, Foluso Alabi of the United States Soybean Export Council identified expensive feed, currency instability, climate-related disruptions, disease threats and supply-chain challenges as major pressures facing poultry producers across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The three-day poultry exhibition brought together farmers, investors, manufacturers, financial institutions and development partners to discuss investment, technology and opportunities for improving the sector.
For Nigeria, achieving the 262 million-chick target will require more than increasing hatchery output. Reliable access to breeding stock, affordable feed, financing, effective disease control and supportive policies will be essential to building a stronger and more sustainable poultry industry.
