Cost of healthy diet rises by 45 per cent in six months

The amount it costs Nigerians to prepare a single healthy diet has risen by 45 per cent in the last six months, reflecting the escalating cost of living in the country.

The cost of a healthy diet (CoHD) is the least expensive combination of locally available items that meet globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines. It is used as a measure of physical and economic access to healthy diets.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in its report released yesterday, noted that the CoHD has been steadily rising since January 2024. The report said that in June 2024, the CoHD of N1,241 per adult per day was 45 per cent higher than it was in January 2024 when it was N858.

It was also 19 per cent higher than the cost in May when it was N1,041. It noted that the main drivers of the increase in CoHD are vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds as well as starchy staples.

Starchy staples, on the other hand, saw the smallest increase in price month-on-month. The report shows that at the State level Ekiti, Ogun and Osun states recorded the highest cost with N1,640, N1,599, and N1,557 respectively. Katsina, Kano and Jigawa recorded the lowest costs with N878, N926 and N937.

At the zonal level, the average CoHD was highest in the South West Zone at N1,545 per day, followed by the South South Zone at N1,376.The lowest average CoHD was recorded in the North West at N956.

The report said that animal-source foods were the most expensive food group recommendation to meet in June, accounting for 35 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 11 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively.