Nigeria Aims for 6 Million Eggs Daily in $900M Poultry Partnership with China

The Federal Government is making a significant effort to improve food security and boost domestic agriculture. Nigeria is moving forward with a $900 million poultry development partnership with Chinese investors. This initiative aims to produce up to six million eggs daily across the country.

This partnership marks a shift in Nigeria’s cooperation with China. It is moving from traditional infrastructure projects to deeper agricultural investment and value-chain development. The goal is to address ongoing protein shortages and high food prices.

A Nationwide Poultry Strategy

Joseph Tegbe, the Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership, states that the plan includes establishing six integrated poultry complexes. One will be in each geopolitical zone. Each complex aims to produce one million eggs daily.

“We’re going to have six poultry projects across Nigeria to address food security issues,” Tegbe said in an interview with BusinessDay. “Each of those poultry farms is supposed to produce one million eggs a day.”

The initial two complexes in Oyo State (Southwest) and Kaduna State (Northwest) will act as pilot sites. Construction of these facilities will begin after the necessary approvals. However, production is anticipated within six to eight months of breaking ground.

Each integrated poultry site will feature one million laying hens, 300,000 broilers, feed processing facilities, hatcheries, abattoirs, and self-sufficient power infrastructure.

A $900M Investment with Regional Impacts

The total investment is estimated at around $150 million per facility. It will be shared between the Nigerian government and Chinese partners. The Chinese side will finance about 85% of four of the six complexes under a 10-year repayment plan with a three-year grace period.

The Nigerian government will entirely fund the first two pilots to demonstrate viability before involving larger investors.

Tegbe notes that the complexes will be commercially sustainable. He projects that income from the operations could repay investments within roughly three and a half years.

Food Security and Affordability Goals

Nigeria’s poultry sector has faced high input costs. This is particularly feed, which makes up about 80% of overall production costs. Experts say this has led to rising prices for eggs and poultry meat, making them unaffordable for many households.

Each integrated farm in the China-Nigeria partnership will grow maize and soybeans on about 10,000 hectares to produce local feed and reduce reliance on costly imports.

The plan also includes that around 50% of the feed that the farms produce will be for sale or distribution. This is possibly at lower prices to smaller poultry operators across the country, strengthening the overall poultry value chain.

Broader Economic and Sectoral Context

Nigeria’s poultry industry plays a crucial role in the agricultural economy, supporting millions of households and generating billions in economic activity each year. However, production has historically failed to meet domestic demand. Local output accounts for only about 30% of the country’s poultry product needs.

Experts believe that cutting feed costs and promoting larger-scale production are essential to close this gap and stabilize prices for consumers.

Next Steps and Expectations

Construction of the pilot facilities is set to begin soon, with the first eggs from the new complexes to hit the market by late 2026 if the timeline holds.

Government officials have expressed plans to eventually transition these integrated farms into private sector management and ownership. This could include potential listings on the Nigerian Exchange, allowing citizens and local investors to buy equity.

For Nigeria, the $900 million poultry partnership with China represents an investment in industrial agriculture and food security, with millions of daily eggs and thousands of jobs at stake.