Eating chicken during Christmas in Nigeria is more than just a meal—it is a cultural practice that symbolizes celebration, prosperity, and social status, as reported by Nairametric.

For many households, serving chicken that was freshly killed and well-prepared marks a “good and festive Christmas.”

The presence of fresh chicken at Christmas dinner is often seen as a measure of success, making the holiday meal feel complete and joyous for families and their communities.

Most people prefer fresh chicken to frozen one as it contains high protein, vitamins, and minerals. They also believe the fresh chicken may have better tenderness and mouthfeel as muscle fibres are intact.

Price surge compared to 2024
As demand for poultry rises during the festive season, prices have surged significantly. A market survey conducted by Nairametrics shows:

Adult layers now cost between N10,500 and N20,000
Adult broilers sell for N18,000 to N30,000
This marks a sharp increase from last year, when layers were priced between N8,000 and N15,000, and broilers sold for N15,000 to N25,000.

The price of frozen chicken has also surged in the last year. Currently, one KG of frozen chicken sells for between N5,500 and N6,500, as against N4,000 – N4,800 it was sold for one year ago.

Retailers cite logistics costs
Retailers say the price hike has been gradual as Christmas approaches.

A seller in Ikorodu explained: “Three months ago, we sold the layers for N8,500, but now the price has gone up because we also bought them at a higher price at the farm, and then we spent money on transportation to bring them to the market.”

Another retailer in Ketu added that the last price she sells layers is N12,500, and it may increase as Christmas gets closer.

“The current price is even still better. The farmers are even telling us yesterday that they may likely increase the price when Christmas draws closer,” he said.

High cost of poultry feeds—or farmers’ greed?
Farmers point to soaring feed costs as the main driver of rising chicken prices.

Ade Usman, CEO of Ade Farms, explained: “A 50kg bag of broiler starter goes for N140,000, while broiler grower costs N121,500, and broiler finisher N112,500. How do you expect us to now sell at a loss? It is the price of poultry feeds, transportation, and other expenses like staff salaries, fuel to power the generator and other things that drive the price up. It is not easy for us, too.”

Emmanuel Elom, another poultry farmer, emphasized that feed costs are the biggest challenge for poultry farmers. He explained that while poultry farming appears profitable, expenses such as feed, mortality and medication significantly reduce earnings.

“The public thinks poultry farming is very lucrative, but they don’t consider the expenses. Yes, we buy birds at N1,000 plus and sell at N10,000, but feed and medication costs eat deep into that money.”

He added that imported raw materials like wheat and maize make feed production costly, while some farmers prefer exporting for better profits due to exchange rate gains.

“The government is supposed to buy from the farmers so they don’t incur losses and can return to their farms. If they sell locally and don’t see any profit, they won’t want to return to farming.”

However, not everyone agrees. A poultry worker in Ibadan argued that farmers are exploiting the festive season. He told Nairametrics that prices of corn and other grains have reduced recently, but farmers have refused to reduce the price of eggs and chicken.

“A congo of corn has come down to N600, but farm owners will not reduce prices of eggs and chicken because they want to take advantage of the festive season to cash out.”

Broader challenges: Insecurity and climate change
Nigeria’s poultry industry also faces structural challenges. Insecurity, climate change, and disruptions in food production have driven up the cost of livestock feed such as maize and soybeans, further straining farmers and consumers.

What you should know
In response, Lagos State recently launched the second phase of its subsidy program, Ounje Eko Phase II, aimed at easing food inflation during the holiday season.

The initiative provides feed subsidies to participating farmers to stabilize production costs and make poultry products more affordable. Officials hope this will lead to a modest drop in egg and chicken prices.
Still, with Nigerians grappling with some of the highest food inflation rates in decades, many households remain braced for a costly Christmas. Whether government efforts will reflect in final retail prices remains to be seen.

Nairametric

Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has identified five influential individuals he claims are behind the ongoing terrorism in Nigeria.

In a statement released by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Ayodele emphasized that unless these individuals are addressed, the country will remain vulnerable to terrorist activities.

He urged the government to take decisive action to combat insecurity, noting that those responsible for the turmoil are not showing signs of retreat.

“Five people are involved in this kidnapping matter that the government must try to identify and take out of the way; otherwise, the nation will continue to be at the mercy of terrorism. If the government isn’t proactive enough, it will continue to hit the nation badly because they are not slowing down.”

The cleric also urged the president not to encourage negotiation with terrorists, no matter the situation. He called on Tinubu to call Gumi and others clamouring for negotiation to order because they are encouraging insecurity.

“Tinubu needs to call people who encourage negotiation to order. People like Gumi shouldn’t be allowed to represent the government for any reason.

“The more we negotiate, the more terrorism increases, and Tinubu is the one who has everything to lose in this matter. If he isn’t careful, they will continue to use insecurity against him.”

He further explained that negotiation has turned terrorism into a big business in the country, revealing that there is international influence in it, and except the president works really hard, he will not be able to end it.

“Negotiation has turned terrorism into a big business centre and despite all, there are international bodies influencing terrorism in Nigeria. If you don’t do what is needful, terrorism will fight your government; it’s not going to affect poor people alone, the rich will also cry,” he added.

On December 2, 2025, the exchange rate between the United States Dollar (USD) and the Nigerian Naira (NGN) remained stable across both official and parallel markets.

Current data from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) indicates that the Naira is trading near the N1,448 per dollar mark, closely aligned with parallel market rates.

The Naira opened trading at approximately N1,447.96 per dollar on Tuesday, showing a slight adjustment from previous sessions. Recent market data reveals that the currency has managed relative stability over the past week.

For instance, on November 28, the NFEM closing rate was recorded at N1,446.90, with a daily high of N1,449.75 and a low of N1,445.00.

On December 1, the rate was around N1,446.59, reflecting sustainable liquidity and lower volatility within the official market.

In the parallel market, the Naira is trading at slightly higher rates, though it remains closely aligned with the official market.

Surveys conducted in major cities such as Lagos and Abuja indicate that the dollar is currently being exchanged at rates between N1,465 and N1,470.

Digital exchange platforms and international transfer services, including Wise and Access Bank’s global rate indicators, validate this, showing fluctuations between N1,465.33 and N1,469.00 as of Tuesday morning. This results in a spread of approximately N18 to N22 between the official and parallel market rates, indicating a trend toward convergence.

As we approach the end of 2025, the foreign exchange market exhibits resilience. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reveals that during late November, the official exchange rate largely remained within the N1,440 to N1,458 band.