The Daily Crucible | Friday, October 14, 2022
By Heritage Odih, Abeokuta
There are an estimated 63 million chickens spread across poultry farms in Nigeria as of October 2022 with Ogun State producing 10 million of them.
Also, Nigeria produces 10billion eggs annually with an average consumption rate of 50 eggs per person yearly as against China which produces 472,6billion eggs per year with 315 eggs consumption per person annually.
Ogun State chairman of Poultry Association of Nigeria(PANOG), Engr. Idowu Asenuga, disclosed this to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital just as the state branch of the association joined the rest of the World to mark this year edition of World Eggs Day today.
The theme of this year World Eggs Day celebration is, 'Eggs for a better life.'
Asenuga who lamented poor funding, insecurity and local eggs consumption in the country, which he said had continued to affect eggs production and profit margin in the Poultry Farming subsector, called on governments and other critical stakeholders to assist poultry farmers with single digit interest credit facility and provision of adequate security to enhance farming activities.
He also identified rising cost of poultry feeds as one of the challenges hurting the poultry business of members.
Re-echoeing the worries of his people, he said the cost of sourcing grains - maize and wheat, the major raw materials for preparing chicken feeds is weighing heavily on them.
He urged the state government to encourage maize production on a large scale in the Gateway State, explaining that Yewa, Otta and other areas of the state are favourable for cultivation of maize in particular.
However, Ogun State Government has assured the association of its continuous support, recalling that a synergy exists between both entities.
The state government which spoke through Dr Angel Adelaja - Kuye, the Special Adviser to governor Dapo Abiodun on agriculture, said that Ogun government would ensure that the federal government fund meant for poultry farmers is properly timed to benefit farmers in the state.
Speaking earlier, Dr. Nurudeen Gbadamosi of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, said contrary to misconceptions that eggs consumption is not healthy, particularly to persons of certain age following erroneous belief that it could lead to build -up of cholesterol, he said it is good for everybody because of its health benefits.
Gbadamosi explained that egg contains vital vitamins, minerals and protein required to maintain healthy body functioning, build body immune system, supply energy for work and for blood clotting in the event of injury.
According to him, children, adult and the aged should eat egg regularly because of its nutritional and health values.
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