BY RITA OYIBOKA/AMAYINDI YAKUBU
Every second Friday of October, the world pauses to celebrate a ‘common’ staple but powerful, the egg. It’s the day the global community acknowledges a small, oval-shaped wonder that nourishes more people across the world than any other single edible item.
This year’s World Egg Day, themed “The Mighty Egg: Packed with Natural Nutrition”, is both a celebration and a sobering reminder of a paradox: the egg, once called “the poor man’s protein,” is increasingly out of reach for the poor.
In Nigeria, where inflation keeps rising and disposable income keeps shrinking, the egg, a once-easy addition to the breakfast plate, has quietly become a luxury item for many families. A crate of eggs that cost between ₦1,200 and ₦1,500 barely four years ago now sells for as high as ₦5,400 to ₦6,000 in some urban centres. In rural areas, prices are not much lower.
So while the rest of the world celebrates the mighty egg for its unmatched nutritional benefits, many Nigerians are asking a very different question: “Can we still afford to eat it?”
The Egg: Small but Mighty
To understand why the egg is so important, you have to look at what it carries inside its fragile shell. In one serving, an egg delivers high-quality protein for muscle and tissue repair, choline for brain development and memory, lutein and zeaxanthin for sharp eyesight, and a cocktail of essential nutrients like vitamin B12, vitamin D, folate, and phosphorus.
Health experts often say that an egg is a “complete food” because it contains nearly everything the human body needs in balanced proportions. Little wonder doctors recommend eggs for growing children, pregnant women, the elderly, and even athletes.
According to a clinical nutritionist and dietician based in Benin City, Dr. Ifeoma Nwokorie, “An egg is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. If you eat one egg, you are not just eating protein; you are feeding your brain, your eyes, your nerves, and your entire system with natural nutrition. You can think of it as nature’s multivitamin, packaged in a shell.”
Dr. Nwokorie elaborated that the egg’s unique nutritional makeup makes it almost irreplaceable in a balanced diet. “One large egg provides about six to seven grams of high-quality protein,” she explained, “and unlike many other protein sources, it contains all nine essential amino acids in the right proportions needed by the body for growth and repair. This is what makes it a complete protein.”
She added that eggs also contain vital micronutrients often missing from many Nigerian diets, especially among low-income families who rely heavily on carbohydrates. “Beyond protein, eggs are rich in choline, which is essential for brain development and memory, especially in children and pregnant women. They contain lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that protect the eyes from cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, and vitamin D, which supports strong bones and immunity. You can’t get that kind of nutritional balance easily from one single, affordable food source,” she said.
When asked why eggs are often recommended for pregnant women, she points to their role in fetal development. “Choline, found in egg yolks, is one of the most important nutrients during pregnancy. It helps in brain and spinal cord formation in the fetus. Many prenatal vitamins don’t contain enough choline, so eating eggs helps bridge that nutritional gap. Unfortunately, as prices rise, many women who need eggs most are cutting them out of their diets.”
Dr. Nwokorie also addresses a common myth that eggs are bad for the heart because of their cholesterol content. “That’s an old misconception. Recent research has shown that dietary cholesterol, the one found in eggs, does not significantly raise blood cholesterol levels for most people. What causes heart disease is an excess of saturated fats and trans fats, not the cholesterol in eggs. In fact, moderate egg consumption, say one egg a day, has been shown to improve good cholesterol (HDL) levels.”
However, she acknowledged that moderation is key. “If you are already dealing with serious heart issues or high cholesterol due to other factors, your doctor might advise you to limit egg yolks. But for the average Nigerian adult or child, one egg a day is perfectly healthy and beneficial.”
She also spoke about affordability. “The sad reality is that eggs, once one of the cheapest protein sources, are now fast becoming luxury items in many Nigerian households. When a crate of eggs costs ₦6,000 and one is 250, it’s no longer within reach for many families living on a minimum wage that hasn’t reflected reality in years. That’s tragic because you’re not just denying people a food item; you’re denying them essential nutrition.”
But in Nigeria today, many are struggling to get even that one egg.
The Price Problem
There was a time, not so long ago, when eggs were a staple on Nigerian tables. They appeared in Sunday breakfasts, lunchboxes, and even roadside snacks like egg rolls. Now the story is changing with certain vendors selling egg rolls with half eggs, and children sharing one egg amongst themselves. Less than a decade ago, a crate of eggs sold for less than ₦1,000. Today, in many parts of the country, a single egg sells for ₦250 to ₦300, and a crate goes for between ₦5,000 and ₦6,0000, depending on the market.
That’s a steep climb for a country where the minimum wage remains ₦30,000, and inflation has made even the basics, rice, yams, and bread, a daily struggle.
Speaking with The Pointer, a mother of five who only identified as Mrs Onu said, “I remember when we used to buy one egg for ₦50 or ₦80. Not too long ago, I would buy three eggs for N100, two noodles, and then call it a day. Now it’s ₦250 for a raw egg and ₦300 for a boiled one. If you calculate what it takes to feed a family of seven one egg each, that’s ₦1,750, just for eggs. How many families can do that every day?”
She continued, “It’s ironic that something meant to fight malnutrition is becoming a luxury. The economic challenges have made protein, not just eggs, even vegetables, unaffordable for many households.”
Also speaking, a resident of Asaba, with Jeremiah Lucky, deliberated about the importance of eggs to people’s health amidst rising costs. He said, “While we celebrate World Eggs Day, we are looking at the affordability of eggs despite all their benefits. Can an average family afford eggs for their meals? Let’s go beyond just eggs. Can an average family afford a source of protein for their everyday meals? So, you see, beyond just the affordability of eggs, we consider the affordability of protein sources for the average family.
“Because the economic challenges in Nigeria have caused prices to skyrocket, many families can no longer afford common sources of protein. If you look at eggs now, they provide more nutrients than many other sources of protein. Eggs help the eyes, the brain, and the muscles develop quickly,” he said.
The Farmer’s Lament
Behind every egg sold in the market is a farmer who had to survive the economy to thrive. A poultry farmer, Mrs. Blessing Ojogan, said the business has become a daily battle between profit and loss.
According to her, “people see eggs and think it’s just one of the cheapest sources of protein, but they don’t know what goes into producing even one crate. Feed alone is enough to make one cry. A bag of feed now costs ₦19,300, and my 500 birds consume about two and a half bags every single day.”
She continued, “That means I spend around ₦48,250 daily just on feed. Add ₦3,000 for labour, that’s ₦51,250 gone before I even think of electricity, vaccines, or water. Multiply that by 30 days and you’ll understand why most poultry farmers are either quitting or running at a loss.”
Mrs. Ojogan said that when she started poultry farming some years ago, the story was different. Feed was cheaper, the market was more stable, and profit margins could sustain a household. “Before, a bag of feed was less than ₦7,000. With 500 birds, you could make ends meet. Today, with all these rising costs, we’re barely breaking even,” she lamented. She explained that while the cost of production keeps increasing, the selling price of eggs hardly follows the same trend. Consumers don’t want to hear that eggs should sell for ₦5,000 per crate. They’ll tell you they can’t afford it. But if I sell for less, I’m simply working for nothing. You can’t even recover what you’ve spent on feed, not to talk of profit,” she said.
She also mentioned the strain of maintaining the birds’ health amid the high cost of medication and vaccines. “When birds fall sick, you must treat them immediately. Otherwise, you’ll lose everything. Drugs are expensive now. Even multivitamins and antibiotics have tripled in price. Sometimes, you’re forced to choose between feeding them or buying medicine,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of Keliz Farms and Consultancy Limited, Lagos, Mr Adekunmi Adefioye, said, “In the last few months, poultry farmers across Nigeria have faced one of the toughest price surges in recent years. The cost of day-old chicks (DOC) has jumped drastically, and feed prices have followed the same painful trend.
“For context, a DOC that used to sell between ₦350 and ₦450 now goes for ₦2,000 to ₦2,230, depending on the hatchery and breed. Feed that sold for ₦7,000 to ₦8,000 per 25kg bag a few years ago now costs ₦20,000 to ₦26,000, and it keeps changing almost weekly. This is not just about figures; it is about survival.”
He continued, “Many small-scale poultry keepers have been forced to sell off early or shut down entirely. Those who remain are hanging on with hope, not profit. The main causes are not hard to trace: the high cost of maize and soybeans, which are the two key ingredients in poultry feed; exchange rate volatility, which affects the importation of additives and vitamins; energy and transport costs, with diesel and logistics prices eating into already thin margins; and, of course, weak policy support. Farmers bear all the risks but get none of the cushioning.”
“The result is simple: the more expensive it becomes to raise chickens, the higher the cost of eggs and meat at the market. It is not greed, it is mathematics. Yet through all this, Nigerian farmers remain some of the most spirited people on earth. We keep showing up at dawn, feeding, cleaning, and hoping that one day agriculture will finally get the respect and support it deserves.
“Until then, remember this: when you buy that crate of eggs or that chicken for your Sunday stew, you are not just buying food; you are buying someone’s sleepless nights, sweat, and faith. We are working hard but dying slowly. Poultry farming is no longer profitable unless you are a big player with huge capital. The small-scale farmer, the one producing eggs for local markets, is being wiped out,” Adefioye added.
The Sellers’ Struggle
For sellers, the story is not much different. Many say they are caught between rising costs and dwindling customer demand.
At a small shop in Okpanam, a local egg seller, Mrs. Beatrice Mendo, stressed that things have really changed. “Before, if I bought a crate of eggs from the market, I used to sell out in two days. Now, the same crate takes me three to four days to finish. People who used to buy two eggs now buy only one. Those who used to buy a dozen now buy half.”
According to her, the capital needed to keep the business running has tripled, but the profit is not the same. “Before, I could manage my sales and still make something, but now, after removing transport and the high price I buy from the market, there is almost nothing left. Sometimes, I have to buy smaller eggs just so I can afford to stock up, but customers complain. They say the eggs are too small. They don’t understand that even small eggs are expensive now.”
The Nutritional Consequences
Nutrition experts warn that this growing inaccessibility to eggs and other protein-rich foods could have serious public health implications.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), about 133 million Nigerians are classified as multidimensionally poor, with food insecurity topping the list of concerns. Meanwhile, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reports that one in three Nigerian children is stunted, a condition directly linked to poor nutrition.
Dr. Nwokorie noted, “The less access people have to animal protein, the more malnutrition we will see, especially among children and pregnant women. Eggs are among the easiest and most efficient ways to get high-quality protein. They are essential for cognitive development, immunity, and general well-being.” She added, “When the price of eggs rises, the poor suffer twice, first from hunger and second from malnutrition.”
Inside the Poultry Industry Crisis
The rising price of eggs is a symptom of a larger poultry industry crisis that has been building for years.
Feed cost inflation remains the biggest challenge. Nigeria’s poultry sector depends heavily on maize and soybean meal, both of which are also demanded by humans and other industries. The conflict in the North, erratic rainfall patterns, and high transport costs have disrupted supply chains and worsened scarcity.
Then there’s the issue of power. Many poultry farms rely on diesel or petrol generators to maintain operations, especially for lighting and incubation. With the cost of diesel hovering around ₦1,700 per litre, running a medium-sized poultry farm has become an economic gamble.
Add to that the exchange rate crisis, which affects the cost of imported vaccines, supplements, and machinery, and it becomes clear why farmers are struggling to stay afloat.
Moving Forward
In many Nigerian homes, an egg on the plate symbolises care. Mothers often give the only egg in the pot to the youngest child or a guest. The belief that eggs represent love, nourishment, and hospitality runs deep in the culture. But with current prices, that simple act of kindness has become a costly gesture.
The rising cost of eggs does not just affect families; it ripples through the wider economy. Bakers, caterers, and food vendors who rely on eggs as a key ingredient are also feeling the pinch. For many small businesses, profit margins have shrunk to the point of survival.
Yet amid the hardship, there remains a flicker of hope. Experts and farmers alike believe the egg industry can recover if the right interventions are made.
Mr Adekunmi Adefioye suggested, “If Nigeria invests in local feed production, supports small-scale farmers, and controls inflation, eggs can once again become affordable. We have the capacity to feed ourselves; what we lack is policy consistency. However, if every home has even five hens laying eggs, imagine how many children will eat better.” Innovations in poultry management are already offering glimpses of that future. From organic feed and solar-powered co-ops to community farming models, new ideas are taking root. Some NGOs are also teaching rural women to rear small backyard poultry, providing both family nutrition and an extra source of income.
The egg, after all, remains a symbol of life, nourishment, and possibility. Its shell may be fragile, but its power to sustain life is not. And perhaps that is the true message of World Egg Day in Nigeria this year: that every family deserves access to this mighty, natural source of nutrition, not as a luxury, but as a right.
Until that vision becomes reality, the humble egg will continue to serve as both a celebration and a reminder that in a nation blessed with land, labour, and potential, no one should be priced out of good nutrition.
