This study is based on micro level data on urban household food consumption and expenditure collected
between 1999 and 2000 in three Nigerian cities. The LA/AIDS model, which allows the inclusion of
demographic variables, was applied to a subset of the data on meat and meat products namely beef,
mutton/goat, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk. Results indicate that urban demand for meat products will
continue to increase as incomes improve, suggesting potential market opportunities especially for poultry.
Intra-household demand patterns clearly indicate the importance of beef for children but contrary to
expectations, there is a reduced demand for milk as the number of infants in urban households increase.
The observed high income elasticity of demand for poultry products may have a positive impact on the
derived demand for maize, a primary product in poultry feed. Encouraging poultry production will help
restore the battered agricultural sector of Nigeria, increase farmer income, reduce unemployment, and
conserve foreign exchange earnings.