Poultry farmers in Lagos State have renewed calls for the state government to speed up the completion of an egg processing factory, saying the facility is crucial to reducing the huge financial losses caused by surplus eggs that remain unsold.
The appeal was made during the annual conference of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, held in Alausa.
The gathering also focused on equipping farmers with modern production techniques aimed at improving efficiency, increasing output and boosting returns.
Chairman of the association in Lagos State, Mojeed Iyiola, described poor market demand as one of the greatest threats to poultry businesses, revealing that many farms are compelled to destroy large quantities of eggs every day because buyers cannot absorb the volume produced.
According to him, the losses run into millions of naira as hundreds of eggs are discarded daily on several farms.
He said the proposed egg powder processing factory would provide an alternative by converting excess eggs into products that can be stored for longer periods and sold within the country, even before export opportunities are explored.
He acknowledged the efforts of the Lagos State Government in supporting poultry producers, particularly its commitment to establishing the processing plant. However, he appealed to the authorities to ensure that the project becomes operational as soon as possible so farmers can begin to benefit from it.
Iyiola explained that the conference, with the theme Flocking to Growth: Transforming Nigeria’s Poultry Industry with Innovation and Investment, was organised to expose members to current developments shaping poultry production across the world.
He said the association wants farmers to move beyond outdated production methods and embrace technology that can improve productivity while reducing dependence on labour. He added that adopting modern systems would enable poultry businesses to operate more efficiently and achieve higher profitability.
The association, he said, has also introduced training programmes involving experts from tertiary institutions to provide members with practical skills and technical knowledge needed to compete with poultry producers in other parts of the world.
A Professor of Agricultural Biochemistry and Animal Nutrition, Poultry Science, Food and Food Safety at the University of Ibadan, Olugbenga Ogunwole, urged farmers to align their feeding practices with the requirements of modern poultry breeds.
He observed that many producers still rely on outdated information, stressing that improved breeds require feeding methods that reflect current scientific knowledge. He advised farmers to provide quality feed if they expect optimal performance from their birds, adding that international feeding standards should serve as a guide for better production results.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Extension Services at the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Olushola Egbota, encouraged poultry farmers to make greater use of the ministry’s extension services instead of depending entirely on government assistance.
She said the Extension Services office located at Oko Oba in Agege remains available to provide technical guidance and relevant information that can help poultry farmers improve productivity and realise the full potential of their businesses.
