The Egg Sellers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (ESDAN) has denied allegations by poultry farmers that middlemen are responsible for the rising cost of eggs in the country.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos, ESDAN President, Mrs. Olaide Graham, described the claims as “blatant lies,” insisting that distributors are not complicit in any price hike.
“Our association’s goal is to make eggs affordable and accessible to every Nigerian,” Graham said. “We currently sell a crate of eggs for as low as ₦5,500. You cannot get 30 pieces of any other protein source fish or meat at that price. Eggs remain the cheapest form of protein.”
She stressed that despite inflation and rising costs, eggs are still within reach for most Nigerians. “We distributors should not be blamed for the increments in egg prices,” she added.
In celebration of this year’s World Egg Day, themed “The Mighty Egg”, ESDAN distributed aid packages to widows, the elderly, and less privileged persons, highlighting the nutritional and economic importance of eggs.
Graham disclosed that ESDAN had made repeated efforts to collaborate with the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) to stabilise prices, but said such attempts had been unsuccessful.
“We came on board to work hand in hand with poultry farmers, but they refused to synergise with us,” she said. “They want to produce and sell at the same time, thereby enjoying a monopoly. Once we reach an agreement, we can trace who is disrupting sales, but they have not been willing to cooperate.”
She further argued that farmers’ control over both production and sales undermines fair market practices. “Maybe because they’ve been enjoying this monopoly, they think they can accuse us.
They sell at the same prices to both distributors and retailers that’s not how a fair supply chain works.”
Addressing calls by some farmers to eliminate middlemen, Graham said such a move would hurt the poultry value chain.
“The middlemen they want to eradicate are the ones keeping the egg sector alive,” she said. “Farmers insist on cash payments, while we sell on credit to retailers. We often bear the losses when eggs spoil because they’re perishable. We know the market better than the farmers removing us would cripple distribution.”
She warned that if farmers continue to reject collaboration, some might be forced out of business due to unsustainable practices.
Meanwhile, poultry farmers have continued to accuse middlemen of driving up prices for profit, a claim ESDAN strongly disputes, insisting that fair collaboration is the only way to stabilise the market and protect consumers.
