Twenty five million Nigerians are at risk of losing their jobs to the current feed challenges facing the multibillion-naira poultry industry if immediate action is not taken.

“The poultry industry is about to collapse and if that happens, there are so many negative consequences that would affect the people.

“We are being challenged by maize scarcity and high exchange rate. People producing in other parts of the world are waiting to see the poultry industry in Nigeria collapse,” according to the President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Ezekiel Ibrahim.

Mr Ibrahim sounded the alarm at the World Egg Day celebration on Saturday in Abuja. He was represented by the Director General of the Association, Onallo Akpa.

He appealed to the federal government to come up with policies that would assist Nigeria’s poultry farmers and save the burgeoning industry from total collapse.

Nigeria’s poultry industry employs millions directly and indirectly, with the entire value chain alone taking almost 4.5 metric tons of maize and 1.5 metric tons of soya beans annually.

The association is worried that the collapse of Nigeria’s poultry industry would create a big market for neighbouring African countries and other parts of the world.

“If that happens, it is a big market for them because we have the population which will create a big market for them,” the association president said.

Mr Ibrahim urged the federal government to make eggs part of the prison’s feeding program.

He further appealed to the federal government to consider eggs as a priority food product that could be supplied to displaced people at various locations throughout the country.

(NAN)