A new statistics released yesterday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said an average Nigerian adult needed about N786 to eat a healthy diet per day as of December 2023.
The Bureau in conjunction with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), revealed this at the launch of the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) indicator in Abuja, yesterday. The report said in December, the average CoHD was highest in the Southwest at N979 per adult per day, compared to N663 per adult per day in North West.
Statistician-General/Chief Executive Officer, Adeyemi Adeniran, said the CoHD is an indicator that points to the least expensive combination of locally available items that meet globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines, used as a measure of physical and economic access to healthy diet. He said the CoHD is a lower bound (or floor) of the cost per adult per day excluding the cost of transportation and meal preparation.
The Guardian gathered that the CoHD increased to 5.9 per cent in December 2023, as compared to N742 in November 2023. The report noted that in December, “the National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet was N786.”
For November, “the average CoHD was highest in Southeast at N920 per adult per day, compared to N616 per adult per day in Northeast.” Also, in October, the average CoHD was N703, “highest in the Southeast at N918 per adult per day, compared to N605 per adult per day in Northeast.”
The report explained that the CoHD indicator was derived from the “comprehensive food price data” which is a “key component in calculating the inflation rate.”
The NBS boss noted that results from the new indicator will “provide invaluable insights into the current state of nutrition and affordability across the nation.” He stated that the indicator can support the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the health and quality of life of Nigerians.
According to him, “The findings will be instrumental in crafting evidence-based policies aimed at improving the nutritional well-being of the population and contribute to progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 2.
“Global food insecurity remains a pressing issue, affecting millions of people worldwide. This multifaceted issue stems from a combination of factors, including poverty, conflict, climate change, and inadequate infrastructure. The consequences of food insecurity are far-reaching, leading to malnutrition, stunted growth, and heightened vulnerability to diseases, including conflict.
“This report will be useful to the newly inaugurated National Minimum Wage Committee and also to other key aspects of public planning, particularly around food security.”
The NBS stated that, however, in recent months, the CoHD has risen faster than general inflation and food inflation. It, however, noted that the CoHD and the food Consumer Index Price (CPI) are not directly comparable, adding that the CoHD includes fewer items and is measured in Naira per day, while the food CPI is a weighted index.
The CoHD indicator was also produced in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
