Residents of Lagos State, Nigeria’s largest city, are voicing their concerns regarding recent claims made by the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) about a reduction in egg prices. While PAN reported a 10 per cent decrease in the farm gate price of eggs, dropping it from N5,000 to a range of N4,800 to N5,000 per crate, many locals are finding that the prices in their communities have not reflected this change.
Investigations by the News Agency of Nigeria indicate that crates of eggs are still being sold for between N5,500 and N6,500 in various markets, and a single egg typically costs around N250. Mrs. Rose Brownson, a resident of Egbeda, shared her experience: “In my area, the cost of eggs has not dropped in recent months; it continues to rise. We still purchase a crate for between N5,800 and N6,000, and a single egg remains at N250. There has been no noticeable change.”
At FESTAC, wholesaler Mrs. Esther Ikechukwu provided insight into the pricing process, explaining how costs escalate from the farm gate to the point of sale. “Although the farm price is N5,100 per crate, we incur additional expenses of N200 per crate for transportation. Once it reaches us, the cost is about N5,300, plus we have delivery costs to consider. I sell at N5,700, while others price their eggs between N6,000 and N6,500,” she noted.
Ikechukwu also highlighted how various factors contribute to the final prices, including packaging, transaction fees, and losses from cracked eggs. “Cracked eggs are sold for N500 for three pieces or N4,500 per crate, and it’s often challenging to make a profit on them. Retailers tend to see more profit than wholesalers,” she explained.
Consumer Mr. Oriafo Oseme, from Alimosho, echoed similar observations: “I bought a crate for N6,000 just a few days ago. If there has truly been a price drop at the farm gates, I would expect it to be reflected in our purchasing costs.”
In Amuwo Odofin, cooked food vendor Mrs. Charity Igwe added that her selling prices are directly impacted by her purchase costs. “We buy a crate at N5,600, and I sell a boiled egg for N250. If the price increases to N6,000, I will have to sell for N300. Many cooked food traders are adjusting their prices to N300 just to break even,” she commented.
Despite the assurances from PAN, it appears that many residents in Lagos are still feeling a significant impact from high egg prices. These insights could be valuable for further discussions on how to better align market prices with farm gate pricing, ensuring that consumers can benefit from any reductions in costs. their pockets.
