The Easter Egg hunt is a game borrowed by most upscale schools and Sunday schools, as well as families in Nigeria and Africa from mostly European countries, especially the United Kingdom.

The game, which is fast gaining wide publicity, involves painting of hard-boiled poultry eggs in vibrant watercolours by the participants, after which the participants hide these eggs in various challenging locations within the environment for children and adults to find. Sometimes, chocolate plastic eggs are included.

Participants search for the eggs, sometimes collecting them in baskets, with prizes occasionally awarded to those who find the most or the special hidden eggs.

This game is a traditionally festive activity for Easter Sunday, often representing new life and celebrating the end of Lent.

At Good Shepherd Nursery/Primary School in Ikeja, Lagos, the Head Teacher Mrs. Gloria Aladede, said this is a game the children always look forward to at this period; however, because of the spike in the price of eggs, we shall proceed on holidays after the exams.

“We actually introduced the Easter Egg Hunt game in our school about five years ago, and both the children and adults always look forward to it, but unfortunately, we cannot indulge in the game. We cannot use those plastic egg shaped chocolate because part of the fun is to allow children to colour the hard boiled eggs in their chosen colour. With the chocolate eggs, that part of the fun will be lost,” the Head Teacher lamented.

At the Chiquita Nursery/Primary School in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos Island, the story was the same. “With the cost of poultry eggs going up, we do not want to bother parents with eggs this time around. Next year we hope it will be better,” said Ola Irukere, who is one of the senior teachers in the school.

“We usually have the Easter Egg Hunt game immediately after our exams. It is always an exciting and energetic game with both pupils and adults actively getting involved, but the price of poultry eggs has gone up, so we shelved the game this Easter,” Irukere added.

Nigeria is witnessing another sharp increase in egg prices, with a crate now selling for as much as ₦8,500 in some retail outlets, raising concerns about a looming scarcity.

The surge, according to investigations, is largely driven by a shortage of day-old chicks (DOCs), which has significantly reduced poultry production across the country.

At the farm gate, eggs currently sell for about ₦5,500 per crate, up from ₦5,000 in January 2026. Retail prices range between ₦6,000 and ₦6,500 depending on egg size. However, prices are notably higher in supermarkets and large retail stores, where a crate can cost between ₦7,000 and ₦8,500 due to additional transportation and operational expenses.

Industry experts attribute the situation primarily to the limited availability of day-old chicks. The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) said hatcheries are fully booked months in advance, making it difficult for farmers to restock after their laying birds are phased out.

According to PAN’s Lagos State Chairman, Mojeed Iyiola, farmers may wait up to six months to secure new chicks. This delay disrupts production cycles, as chicks require several months to mature before they begin laying eggs.

The cost of chicks has also surged, rising from about ₦1,800 last year to approximately ₦3,300 currently, further straining farmers’ capacity to sustain or expand operations.

Stakeholders also point to government restrictions on the importation of breeding birds as a contributing factor.

These birds are essential for local chick production, and industry players are urging the Federal Government to increase import licenses or permit direct chick importation to ease supply constraints.

Additionally, rising fuel prices have pushed up transportation costs, compounding the overall increase in egg prices.

As a result, many Nigerians are finding it increasingly difficult to afford eggs, traditionally considered one of the most accessible sources of protein.

Consumers report steady price hikes since the start of the year, with no clear indication of when relief may come.

Meanwhile, poultry farmers have also expressed concerns over a proposed $900 million partnership between the Federal Government and China. While the initiative aims to boost production to as much as six million eggs daily, stakeholders warn that existing structural challenges—particularly access to critical inputs—must first be addressed for the plan to achieve meaningful results.

The Easter Egg Hunt game symbolises the search for new life and resurrection, blending Christian themes of discovering the empty tombs with traditions of spring renewal. The hunt mimics the joy of finding Jesus empty tomb on the first Easter morning, with the egg itself symbolising the tomb.

Another explanation says the egg represents the sealed tomb, and cracking or opening it symbolises the resurrection. Red eggs specifically represent the blood of Christ, while the Easter Egg Hunt mirrors the joy of the women who discovered the tomb on the first Easter morning.

Beyond the religious and historical aspects, the hunt has evolved into a fun way for kids to engage in a scavenger-type activity, often incorporating education about colours, numbers and prepositions.

Meanwhile, while egg hunts are gradually gaining popularity here, they should not overshadow the core purpose of Easter-celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, love, hope and new life.