The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported that the National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) per adult per day stood at N1,041 in May 2024. This information was revealed in the NBS’s CoHD report for May 2024, released on Friday in Abuja.
According to the report, the CoHD in May increased by 1% compared to the N1,035 recorded in April. The bureau explained that the CoHD represents the least expensive combination of locally available items that meet globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines.
The report noted that the CoHD has been increasing at a pace faster than general inflation and food inflation, though the two metrics are not directly comparable. This increase has been primarily driven by rising prices in starchy staples, legumes, nuts and seeds, and animal-source foods. In contrast, vegetables and fruits saw the smallest price increments.
In May 2024, animal-source foods emerged as the most expensive food group, accounting for 36% of the total CoHD despite contributing only 13% of the total calories.
Significant geographical variations were observed in the cost of a healthy diet. The NBS reported that in May, the average CoHD was highest in the South-West at N1,189 per adult per day, followed by the South-East at N1,190 per day. The lowest average CoHD was recorded in the North-West at N919 per adult per day.
At the state level, Ebonyi, Abia, and Anambra recorded the highest CoHD at N1,225, N1,215, and N1,205, respectively. Kano recorded the lowest CoHD at N898, followed by Jigawa at N899, and Yobe and Katsina at N906.
The NBS noted that the CoHD has steadily increased since the first CoHD report by the bureau in October 2023. The policy implications of these results highlight the need for collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and civil society actors focused on food security. These stakeholders will devise strategies to effectively tackle issues related to access, availability, and affordability of healthy diets.
According to the report, future research incorporating income data can also be used to determine the proportion and number of the population that are unable to afford a healthy diet.
