Residents of Lagos State have faulted claims by the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) that the price of eggs has been reduced, insisting that costs remain high in retail markets despite a reported drop at farm level.
PAN recently announced a 10 per cent reduction in the farm gate price of eggs, stating that the cost of a crate had fallen from N5,000 to between N4,800 and N5,000.
However, checks by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) show that a crate of eggs still sells for between N5,500 and N6,500 in most Lagos markets, while a single egg goes for about N250.
Mrs. Rose Brownson, a resident of Egbeda, said no price relief had reached consumers.
“The cost of eggs has not dropped in recent months; it only gets more expensive,” she said, adding, “We still buy a crate between N5,800 and N6,000, and a single egg sells for N250. There has been no noticeable change.”
Wholesalers and retailers point to additional market costs as the reason the farm gate reduction has not filtered down.
At FESTAC, a wholesaler, Mrs. Esther Ikechukwu, explained that transport and handling charges increase prices before they reach consumers.
“The farm price is N5,100 per crate, but we pay an extra N200 for transportation. By the time it gets to us, it’s about N5,300, and we still incur costs for delivery to our shops,” she said.
“I sell at N5,700, while others sell between N6,000 and N6,500.”
Ikechukwu added that packaging costs, data charges for mobile transactions, and losses from cracked eggs also affect pricing.
“Cracked eggs are sold at N500 for three pieces or N4,500 per crate, and we hardly make any profit from them,” she said.
“Retailers tend to gain more than wholesalers because they can sell in smaller units at higher prices.”
Some buyers say they have seen no evidence of any price drop.
Mr. Oriafo Oseme, a consumer in Alimosho, said, “I still bought a crate at N6,000 a few days back. This talk of a price slash seems like a myth. If there has been a drop at the farm gates, it should reflect in what we pay.”
Cooked food sellers are also passing on the high prices to customers.
Mrs. Charity Igwe, a food vendor in Amuwo Odofin, said her selling price is tied to purchase costs.
“We buy a crate at N5,600 and sell a boiled egg for N250,” she said.
“When the price rises to N6,000, I sell for N300. Most cooked food traders now sell at N300 to break even.”
Market watchers say the gap between farm gate prices and retail costs highlights inefficiencies in the supply chain and rising operational expenses, including transportation, packaging, and informal fees, which continue to push food prices higher.
NAN
