Nigeria's ambition to build a stronger egg-processing industry is facing a major quality challenge, as poultry farmers warn that antibiotic use in egg production could prevent locally produced eggs from gaining acceptance among major industrial buyers.
The warning came from the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State Chapter, which said concerns over antibiotic residues are making some major food manufacturers reluctant to use locally produced egg powder and, in some cases, pushing buyers towards imported alternatives.
The Chairman, Mojeed Iyiola, said Nigeria needs a specialised production system for eggs destined for processing. Farmers supplying the egg-powder industry, he argued, would need to maintain dedicated flocks managed under stricter controls on antibiotic use, so that the resulting eggs meet the requirements of industrial processors.
The issue comes as Nigeria's poultry industry faces a seemingly contradictory problem. Farmers are producing eggs that they struggle to sell, while the country has limited capacity to convert surplus fresh eggs into longer-lasting industrial products.
PAN has urged the Lagos State Government to accelerate the proposed egg powder factory in Igbodo, Epe, arguing that processing could create a new market for surplus eggs, extend their shelf life, and reduce the quantities currently discarded. Farmers have reported disposing of thousands of crates of eggs when weak demand leaves them unable to sell before the product deteriorates.
The antibiotic concern is not isolated to the egg-powder market. A 2026 study of poultry farms in Minna, North -Central Nigeria, found that all surveyed farms had used antimicrobials during the preceding three months, while adherence to withdrawal periods was low.
Research from Lagos State, South-west Nigeria, has similarly documented widespread antibiotic use among poultry farms, highlighting the importance of responsible veterinary medicine use and proper withdrawal periods before animal products enter the food chain.
For Nigeria, the challenge is therefore not simply building an egg-powder factory. The industry must also establish a reliable supply of eggs that meet food-safety and quality requirements.
NBF Insight
Nigeria's egg surplus could become an industrial opportunity, but processing capacity without production standards will not solve the problem.
Egg powder could create a valuable new market for farmers, reduce wastage and supply bakeries and food manufacturers. But unlocking that market requires investment in responsible antibiotic use, veterinary oversight, traceability, quality testing and specialised production systems.
The bigger opportunity is to turn Nigeria's recurring egg glut into a structured value chain from compliant farms to processors and industrial buyers, rather than allowing surplus production to become a source of losses for farmers.
