NBS Report: Cost of Healthy Diet in Nigeria Reaches N938 Per Adult Daily
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has released its report for February 2024, revealing that the national average cost of a healthy diet per adult per day was N938. This figure represents the minimum cost for a combination of locally available items that meet globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines, serving as a measure of both physical and economic access to healthy diets.
The NBS clarified that this cost does not include transportation and meal preparation expenses. To compute the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) indicator, the NBS utilized data on retail food prices, food composition, and healthy diet standards.
Regional variations were observed in the average CoHD, with the South-West recording the highest at N1,157 per adult per day, followed by the South-East at N1,077 per day. Conversely, the North-West had the lowest average CoHD at N723 per adult per day.
At the state level, Ekiti, Lagos, and Osun states recorded the highest CoHD at N1,295, N1,195, and N1,184, respectively, while Katsina State had the lowest at N673, followed by Sokoto and Zamfara states at N714 and N720, respectively.
The report highlighted that animal-source foods were the most expensive food group to meet the dietary recommendation, accounting for 38% of the total CoHD to provide 13% of the total calories. Fruits and vegetables were noted as the most expensive food groups in terms of price per calorie, accounting for 12% and 14% of the total CoHD, respectively, while providing only 7% and 5% of total calories in the Healthy Diet Basket.
In recent months, the CoHD has increased faster than general inflation and food inflation. While the food Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by approximately 4% between January and February, the CoHD increased by 9%. This disparity underscores the challenges faced by many Nigerians in accessing affordable and nutritious diets.
The NBS emphasized the need for collaboration among stakeholders to address food security issues effectively, with a focus on strategies that improve the availability, access, and affordability of healthy diets. Future research incorporating income levels can help determine the proportion of the population unable to afford a healthy diet.
Peoples Gazette
