The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene in what it described as crippling financial and structural challenges threatening the country’s poultry industry and deepening Nigeria’s protein deficit.
Speaking at the Poultry Summit 2026 in Ilorin, PAN National President, Sunday Ezeobiora, said inadequate access to affordable credit and limited government-backed intervention funds have stalled expansion and discouraged investment in the sector.
He called for low-interest agricultural loans, poultry-specific intervention programmes, stable policies, improved infrastructure, reliable power supply and fair market regulations to protect farmers from exploitative practices.
Echoing the concerns, PAN Chairman in Kwara State, Abdulwaheed Kolapo, cited soaring feed costs, raw material scarcity and funding constraints as major setbacks. He appealed for reduced prices of feed materials, noting that lower production costs would translate into cheaper poultry products and increased consumption.
Delivering the keynote address, poultry veterinarian Dr James Wageti described poultry as the backbone of affordable protein, highlighting its quick production cycle and accessibility to small-scale and commercial farmers alike. He urged government support in feed subsidies, vaccine production, hatchery development, affordable loans and improved infrastructure, including power, roads and cold chain systems.
Minister for Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, underscored the urgency of reform, revealing that Nigerians consume an average of two kilograms of chicken annually, compared to the global average of 17 kilograms. He added that 45 per cent of Nigerians do not consume protein daily, while 37 per cent of children under five suffer stunted growth.
Representing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Afees Abolore Alabi, assured stakeholders of continued support, describing poultry as a strategic pillar for food security, job creation and economic growth.
