Nigerians are facing higher pressure to maintain a nutritious diet, with the minimum daily expense required to meet basic nutritional needs rising to N1,589 per adult in April 2026. The increase highlights the ongoing strain on household food budgets, even as broader inflationary pressures show tentative signs of slowing.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the latest Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) report revealed that April’s figure represented a 3.12 per cent jump from N1,541 in March 2026. It also stands 4.74 per cent above the N1,518 recorded in April 2025, underscoring the persistent erosion of household purchasing power when it comes to affordable meals.

The bureau attributed the month-on-month increase to higher prices across most food groups, with starchy staples being the only category to record a decline.

The increase also comes as the second quarter draws to a close after three consecutive months of rising headline inflation, highlighting the sustained pressure on consumer spending throughout the period.

According to the NBS Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, headline inflation rose for the third consecutive month, increasing from 15.69 per cent in April to 15.93 per cent in May. Although the monthly inflation rate eased to 1.75 per cent from 2.13 per cent recorded in April, the moderation has yet to translate into meaningful relief for households struggling with rising food costs.

The yearly trend presented a more encouraging picture. Food inflation slowed to 16.96 per cent year-on-year in May, compared with 24.55 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025, reflecting favourable base effects, improved exchange rate stability and easing supply constraints following the severe disruptions experienced in 2024.

Similarly, the yearly increase in the cost of a healthy diet remained relatively modest at 4.74 per cent, suggesting that while food prices continue to rise, the pace of deterioration has moderated compared with the sharp increases witnessed last year.

Nevertheless, the monthly trend pointed to persistent structural pressures. The jump from N1,541 in March to N1,589 in April marked a significant increase at the start of the second quarter, while month-on-month food inflation eased only slightly to 2.98 per cent in May from 3.63 per cent in April, indicating that food prices continue to rise, albeit at a slower pace.

Animal-source foods remained the costliest component of a nutritionally adequate diet, accounting for 40 per cent of total expenditure while contributing only 13 per cent of daily calorie requirements. Fruits and vegetables accounted for 16 per cent and 14 per cent of the total cost respectively, despite supplying just seven and five per cent of caloric intake.

On a state-by-state basis, Ekiti recorded the highest daily cost of a healthy diet at N2, 036, followed by Imo at N2, 018 and Bayelsa at N1, 909. Adamawa posted the lowest cost nationally at N1, 143, ahead of the Federal Capital Territory at N1, 278 and Akwa Ibom at N1,314.

At the zonal level, the South-East returned the highest average daily cost at N1, 830, with the South-West at N1,753. The North-East recorded the lowest zonal average at N1, 415.

The report also identified the most cost-efficient food selections across the country. White beans emerged as the cheapest item in the legumes, nuts and seeds category in 65 per cent of state sectors, while palm oil was the most affordable option in the oils and fats group in 62 per cent of state sectors. Garri (white) and white maize grains were the most commonly selected least-cost starchy staples, each accounting for 32 per cent of selections nationwide.

The NBS noted that while prices of starchy staples and oils and fats declined over the past year, all other food groups recorded annual price increases, sustaining upward pressure on the overall healthy diet cost.