Egg distributors deny price hike, blame poultry farmers for rising costs

The Egg Sellers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (ESDAN) has dismissed claims by poultry farmers that middlemen are responsible for the steady increase in egg prices across the country.

ESDAN President, Mrs. Olaide Graham, made the clarification in an interview with the newsmen on Saturday in Lagos.

She said the association remains committed to ensuring that eggs remain affordable and accessible to Nigerians despite economic challenges.

“Our goal as distributors is to make eggs available to the average Nigerian. We are not complicit in the hike of prices,” Graham stated.

According to her, a crate of eggs currently sells for about ₦5,500, which she described as still the cheapest source of protein compared to meat or fish.

“No other protein source gives you 30 pieces for ₦5,500. Eggs remain the most affordable protein option, and we need protein to survive.

“So, this accusation that distributors are behind price increases is a blatant lie,” she said.

In celebration of World Egg Day, Graham said the association distributed food items and other welfare materials to widows, the elderly, and the less privileged, under the theme “The Mighty Egg,” which highlights the nutritional and economic importance of eggs.

Graham also revealed that ESDAN had made several attempts to collaborate with the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) to stabilise prices, but the farmers had allegedly resisted cooperation.

“We came on board to synergise with the Poultry Association of Nigeria, but they have refused to work with us.

“The farmers want to produce and sell at the same time, enjoying a sort of monopoly.

“Maybe that’s why they keep accusing us,” she said.

She explained that attempts to remove distributors from the egg supply chain would be counterproductive, noting that middlemen play a crucial role in the distribution network.

“We heard they want to eradicate middlemen, but that’s not realistic. We are the ones driving the egg sector.

“Farmers sell to us for cash, and we sell on credit to retailers. We take the bigger risks because eggs are perishable, so sometimes we sell at a loss,” Graham explained.

She further argued that distributors have a better understanding of market dynamics than the farmers themselves, warning that sidelining them could disrupt the sector.

“Without distributors, many poultry farmers will struggle.

“We handle the logistics and sales that keep the industry running,” she added.

The poultry farmers have repeatedly accused middlemen of exploiting the market and inflating egg prices for profit, a claim the distributors now insist is unfounded.