The price of chicken, which dampened the festive mood for many Nigerians has dropped significantly in many parts of the country, almost two weeks after the Christmas celebrations. Many poultry farmers told Daily Trust that they are now counting their losses, having experienced low patronage during the Christmas and New Year celebrations and are now forced to sell at lower prices.
Daily Trust reports that the festive season ushered a sharp increase in the price of chicken and turkey as breeds like broilers were sold between N20,000 to N30,000 in major cities such as Lagos and Abuja, while Turkey ranged from N85,000 to N130,000.
Poultry farmers and sellers had attributed the sharp increase to the high cost of poultry feed and high transportation of produce from farms to markets and other retail outlets.
However, with the festive season now over, findings revealed that in many northern states, the price of large broiler chicken, which sold at N20,000 during the Christmas period is now sold between N13,000 and N16,000, while many seller say they are returning unsold chickens to farmers due to low patronage and their inability to continuously feed them.
Prices drop in Abuja, northern states
Checks by our correspondents in various markets within the FCT and some states in northern Nigeria revealed that the price of chicken has dropped significantly. Our reporter, who visited Utako market in Abuja reports that old layer chickens, which sold at N17,000 during the festive season has dropped to N13,500, while broiler prices also dropped from N20,000 to N16,000 depending on the size. Also, local fowl dropped from N35, 000 to N26, 000 while that of N19, 000 is now sold at N12,500.
Some of the traders told our reporter that unlike the previous festive season, this one recorded low patronage as customers complained of the economic hardship in the country.
A trader at Wuse market in Abuja, Ayuba Jamilu said, “By this time last year, I had sold all my chickens, even if they remained, it was the small sizes.” He said many of his customers that used to buy chicken during the Christmas and New Year festivity did not patronise him. “Even the few that came, only bought one or two at a bargain and discounted prices,” he said.
In Utako market, a trader who identifies himself as Samaila, said he is counting losses as a result of low patronage, some of the chicken he bought before Christmas at high prices are now sold at lower price. “I have to sell them now because the more they are here, the more they are consuming food, price of feed alone keeps on increasing,” he said.
A customer, who pleaded anonymity told our reporter at Utako Market that the same size of chicken she bought at N17,000 on 23rd December, is now being bargained at N12,500. “I expected price drops for other commodities, like food items, because when you buy chicken, you need other items to prepare it. It is my prayer that this 2025, the price of things should reduce, at least to the point that even the poor can afford,” she said.
In Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the price of the birds dropped by almost 40 per cent, Daily Trust gathered. At the Maiduguri Monday market, our correspondent observed that many sellers were approaching customers with a large number of chickens, trying to convince them to buy at a far lower price than the Christmas period.
One of the sellers, Adamu Lawan said the economic situation has forced many Nigerians to cut down their spendings during the festive period leaving them with a large number of unsold poultry.
“Now, poultry farmers are in a very tight situation trying to recoup their investments. They have slashed prices by almost 40 per cent and a chicken that was sold at N20,000 during Christmas is now sold between N13,000 and N15,000,” he said adding that, “customers are seeking alternatives, they are buying rabbits, ducks and pigeons instead.”
The situation remained the same at Bulunkutu market in the state where sellers said they are now returning the poultry to their owners because they cannot shoulder the responsibility of feeding them.
“We buy feed for these fowls everyday, and the customers are not forthcoming. Customers are turning to fresh fish and beef in this market because of the high cost of chickens,” said a poultry seller.
A customer, Aisha Abubakar said with the marginal increase in bird’s price, most customers were forced to resort to what their budgets can afford. “How can I buy a chicken at N25,000 when the same amount of money can buy me almost six kilos of beef?,” she queried and urged the government to intervene in the cost of poultry feed.
“A crate of egg is now sold at N6,000, and a moderate chicken N13,000. Very few Nigerians can afford them, and the situation would have multiplier effects on the poultry farmers and everyone within the chain of poultry business,” she said.
In Kano, poultry sellers say the price for medium size chicken has dropped to N6,000 while a big size chicken, which sold for over N20,000 is now sold at N18,000.
Auwal Hassan, who sells chicken along Zoo Road said many people could not afford the big size chicken during the festive season and so they moved them to Sabon Gari area where the demand was higher. “But the price has come down to less than N20,000 now,” he said.
Most chicken sellers on Court Road by Zoo Road corroborated what Hassan said adding that local chicken now go for as low as N4,000.
A resident of Sabon Gari, Kola Oyelere told Daily Trust that he bought two big chickens for Christmas at N20,000 each but learned that the price of the same size of chicken has slightly gone down.
“With N18, 000 or N19, 000 you can buy a big chicken now. Local chickens are even cheaper, but people celebrating with their loved ones prefer to buy the big ones and so sellers targeted the festive period to make a brisk business,” he explained.
At Yan’kaji market, a popular bird market, in Jos, the Plateau State capital, poultry sellers told Daily Trust that prices of chickens and turkeys have dropped but attributed it to low demand period. Daily Trust gathered that the size of chicken, which sold at N20,000 during the festive season is now being sold at N15,000. However, the Chairman of Yankaji market, Alh. Sani Abdulaziz said this was due to dwindling demand with the festive season now over.
Despite the decrease, Abdulaziz said sellers will not be significantly affected, noting that the change in prices was not drastic, and therefore sellers are unlikely to incur substantial losses. “Unless the birds are affected by disease, the sellers’ initial capital investment is likely to remain intact,” he said.
Price remain high in Lagos
In Lagos, the price of chicken and turkey have remained high even after the Yuletide festivities. Daily Trust findings showed that almost two weeks after Christmas, retail sellers still maintain high prices and attributed it to the hike in cost of poultry feed and transportation in conveying the poultry from farms to the retail outlets.
Kazeem Amoo, a retailer at Masha, Surulere said: “The price has not come down, it is still the same because we are not just selling for festive period only, so we still sell at our normal price because the price of feed has also increased, that was why there was an increase in the price.” He stressed that there was a decline in patronage, compared to the output of sales recorded in 2023.
Another retail seller, who identified himself as Jamiu at the Ogba Market in Lagos added that the cost incurred in transporting the chicken and turkey from the distributor outlets to them affected the price, saying that they still maintain the prices after the fall of the festive season.
A poultry farmer, Andrew Ojiezel attributed several factors including hike in cost of feed, medication for poultry as well as transportation as contributing to the high cost of poultry.
“We are in the dry season, it also affects the animals, they consume more water and the price for providing them water is also factored in the retail price,” he said.
He added that the increasing factor of demand and less supply affect the price, calling for an urgent need to boost animal production in a bid to cushion the price of price.
“Unless there is adequate preparation to boost animal production, the price may never come down. Producers are being chased by multiple people and this is also affecting the price,” he said.
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