Poultry farmers in Lagos are moving to reduce soaring egg prices by cutting out middlemen and selling directly to consumers, the state chapter of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) announced Monday.

Chairman of PAN Lagos, Mojeed Iyiola, said the association is working with local governments across the state to establish direct-to-consumer sales points, a move that could reduce the retail cost of a crate of eggs by as much as ₦1,000.

Consumers in Lagos currently pay up to ₦6,500 per crate, while farmers receive ₦5,000 to ₦5,500 at the farm gate. By eliminating intermediaries, PAN aims to make poultry products more affordable for the public.

“We are currently working with the local government areas in Lagos State to give us space in their premises where we can sell the produce at affordable prices without the interference of middlemen,” Iyiola said at a media briefing in Lagos.

The initiative, he said, would not only cushion the burden of food inflation on ordinary residents but also ensure poultry farmers receive fairer returns for their efforts.

While he acknowledged that the recent drop in maize prices—thanks to federal government intervention—has helped marginally, Iyiola warned that the cost of poultry production remains volatile due to high prices of other critical inputs.

“Maize is only one out of about 15 ingredients used in formulating poultry feed,” he noted. “We still have around 14 other components, and their prices are far from stable.”

According to him, maize accounts for almost 60 percent of poultry feed, but other ingredients such as Methylene, lysine, urea, and groundnut cake have become significantly more expensive in recent months.

“We used to buy a 25kg bag of Methylene for between ₦25,000 and ₦30,000, but now it goes for ₦150,000,” he said. “Lysine has seen a similar spike, and urea and groundnut cake haven’t dropped either. They remain high and significantly influence the cost of eggs.”

Iyiola urged the government to expand its interventions beyond maize, stressing the need for a holistic approach to stabilise feed prices and make poultry production sustainable.

His call comes amid growing concerns over the affordability of protein-rich food items in Nigeria, where inflation and currency devaluation have eroded purchasing power. Eggs, once considered a relatively affordable source of nutrition, are now out of reach for many low-income households.

The Lagos initiative is seen as a proactive step by the poultry industry to address price instability and improve food access. PAN’s direct-market scheme is expected to roll out in phases, pending approvals from local councils across the state.

Iyiola also hinted at plans to replicate the model in other states if the Lagos pilot proves successful. “This is not just about Lagos,” he said. “It’s about building a supply chain that works for both the farmers and the people.”