Nigeria’s poultry sector is witnessing a remarkable resurgence as consumers increasingly embrace locally produced chicken, signaling a major shift in food consumption patterns and a win for local farmers.
The development follows intensified border surveillance and enforcement by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), which has significantly reduced the inflow of smuggled frozen chicken from neighboring countries — a trade that once crippled local production.
With the decline in smuggled poultry, markets across Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, and Port Harcourt now report stronger demand for locally raised chicken, both live and processed. Poultry farmers have described the trend as a new dawn for the industry, citing increased sales and renewed investor confidence.
According to the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), the local chicken market has grown by over 25% in the past year, driven by government policies favoring domestic production and growing consumer awareness about food safety.
Mrs. Grace Adebayo, a poultry farmer in Ogun State, said: “People now prefer local chicken because it’s fresher, healthier, and safer. The days of cheap smuggled frozen birds are fading fast.”
Experts believe the shift could create thousands of new jobs, boost rural economies, and enhance Nigeria’s food security. However, they also warn that sustained growth will depend on government support in feed production, credit access, and infrastructure.
As smuggling continues to decline and Nigerians “buy local” in greater numbers, the nation’s poultry farmers may finally be entering a golden age of profitability and pride.
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