Average healthy diet per day in Nigeria cost N858 – NBS
The National average Cost of a Healthy Diet was N858 per adult per day in January 2023, a new report has said.
According to the NBS in its Average Cost of a Healthy Diet (National, State & Zonal Levels) report, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States recorded the highest cost for healthy diet with N1,090, N1,087, and N1,063 respectively.
Conversely, Katsina and Niger accounted for the lowest cost with N629, followed by Kano and Jigawa with N649 and N676 respectively.
At the zonal level, the average CoHD was highest in the South West Zone at N1,045 per day, followed by South East Zone with N986 per day while the lowest average cost of a healthy diet was recorded in North West Zone with N683 per day.
The statistics bureau indicated that animal source foods were the most expensive food group in January, accounting for 38 per cent of the total CoHD to provide 13 per cent of the total calories.
“Fruits and vegetables were the most expensive food groups in terms of price per calorie; they accounted for 12% and 14%, respectively, of total CoHD while providing only 7% and 5% of total calories in the Healthy Diet Basket. Legumes, Nuts and Seeds were the least-expensive food group on average, at 6% of the total cost,” the NBS said.
The report further noted that in 2023, “the CoHD and the cost of all other goods and services increased at roughly the same rate, until July 2023, when CoHD increased at a faster rate than all goods and services (general CPI) and more than all foods for which retail prices are collected.”
In January 2024, the report stated that Katsina (Urban) had the lowest Cost of a Healthy Diet at N573 per adult per day, while the most expensive location was Ondo (Rural) with CoHD at N1,145.
“While there were a few similarities in the least-cost item in January (e.g. Avocado Pear & Soya Beans), the cost per food was different in these locations because of underlying price differences. Most of the food groups had different least-cost items; for example, Millet Whole Grain was the least-expensive starchy staple in Katsina (Urban), compared with Maize Grain White in Ondo (Rural).
“For example, in the Oils and Fats Food group, Vegetable Oil was the least expensive item in 78% of State Sectors, and Soya Beans was the least-expensive item in the Legumes, Nuts and Seeds Food Group in 64% of all the State-Sectors. Coconuts were selected as a least-cost item for the Fruits Food Group in 34% of State-Sectors,” the report added.
