Egg prices are easing across Nigeria, but Jigawa buyers still pay ₦7,350 a crate

Egg prices are easing in parts of Nigeria after months of steady increases, offering households some relief on a key protein source. But the relief is uneven. A crate of 30 medium eggs costs as much as ₦7,350 in Jigawa while Jos buyers pay about ₦5,500.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that food inflation declined by 1.55 per cent month-on-month in September 2026. Annual food inflation, however, stayed high at 19.59 per cent, a sign that household budgets remain under pressure.

What the inflation data shows

The NBS named eggs, rice, maize flour, onions and palm oil among the food items that contributed to the monthly decline. The report does not establish a precise nationwide drop in egg prices between August and September.

Earlier official data showed the average price of a crate of 30 eggs fell from ₦6,263.92 in March to ₦6,143.11 in April, before rising slightly to ₦6,149.18 in May. That works out to an overall decline of about 1.83 per cent between March and May.

Market surveys tell a different story on the ground. A News Agency of Nigeria survey published on August 4 put a crate of eggs at between ₦5,700 and ₦6,500 in Lagos. Traders said similar crates sold for about ₦5,000 to ₦5,200 earlier in 2026.

A September market report put a crate at about ₦5,500 in Jos, Plateau State, while prices in Nasarawa, Abuja and Kaduna were ₦6,000 or higher.

Jigawa tops the price chart

Market estimates published by agricultural price-tracking platform FarmPaddy on October 17 showed wide gaps across states. Jigawa recorded the highest listed price among the 26 states covered, with a crate of 30 medium eggs estimated at ₦7,350.

Ekiti and Gombe followed at ₦6,500 each, while Nasarawa recorded ₦6,200. Adamawa, Borno and Ebonyi were listed at about ₦6,000 per crate. The platform's benchmark price stood at ₦5,650.

These figures are modelled market estimates, not official NBS observations. No comprehensive September data covering all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory exists, so Nigeria's cheapest state cannot be identified conclusively.

Plateau State's relatively affordable prices have been linked to local poultry production by the Plateau State Poultry Association.

Why prices remain high

Poultry farmers are still battling high feed costs, transport expenses and difficulty getting replacement laying birds. Feed ingredients, including maize, take up a significant share of production costs. Industry operators say these pressures have stopped consumers from fully enjoying the fall in some agricultural commodity prices.

For Nigerian households, the September inflation numbers point to modest relief rather than a real drop in the cost of a crate. Until feed and distribution costs come down, egg prices are likely to stay elevated even as headline food inflation softens.