Nigerians have expressed worry that ever-rising prices of protein-rich foods in the country will, if not checked, compound malnutrition and worsen infant/nursing women morbidity and mortality rates.

Eggs, beans, milk, beef, chicken, pork and other protein-rich foods have become more expensive and non-prioritised among many poor households in the country.

A market survey conducted by recently revealed that the cost of protein-rich food had increased by almost 100 per cent in the last year.

In Lagos, a crate of eggs (30 units) in most supermarkets is between N1900 and N2,150. Street price has also gone up from an average of N1200 in 2020 to between N1700 and N2000, depending on the size. Again, a kilogram of chicken laps costs between N2300 and N2500, while a whole chicken (about 1kgs) in most supermarkets’ costs about N4,000.

A consultant public health physician with experience in the management of diseases of public concern, Dr. Olalere Olajide, said protein is very essential for the growth of cells, tissues and organs of the body. Its deficiency has far-reaching health and growth implications, he warned.

He said: “Children need protein to help build and repair cells, enzymes and hormones, which are very essential to the body functions.” Olajide warned with an increase in the prices of major sources of protein like eggs, beef and fish, among others, there would be ‘’protein-energy malnutrition-related conditions such as kwashiorkor, marasmus or the combination of the two conditions.’’

According to him, protein deficiency represents a state of relative or absolute deficiency of body proteins or one or more of the essential amino acids. Guardian