The cost of maintaining a healthy diet in Nigeria has surged significantly, rising by 47% within just seven months, according to the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). As of July 2024, the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) reached N1,265 per adult per day, compared to N858 in January 2024.
The report, released today by NBS, highlighted a persistent month-on-month increase in the CoHD, which climbed by 2.0% from N1,241 in June 2024. The continuous upward trend in the cost of a healthy diet has been attributed to rising prices of key food items, including vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and starchy staples.
“The National average Cost of a Healthy Diet was N1,265 per adult per day in July 2024,” stated the NBS report. “This marks a 35% increase from February 2024, when the cost stood at N934, and a 2.0% rise from June 2024.”
Key drivers of this surge include the escalating costs of vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and starchy staples. The report also pointed out that animal-source foods remain the most expensive food group to meet, accounting for 36% of the total CoHD while providing just 13% of the total calories required in a healthy diet.
Fruits and vegetables, despite their nutritional value, were the most costly in terms of price per calorie, contributing 10% and 17% respectively to the total CoHD but providing only 7% and 5% of the total calories. On the other hand, legumes, nuts, and seeds were noted as the least expensive, constituting just 7% of the total cost.
This sharp rise in the cost of a healthy diet raises concerns about food affordability and accessibility for many Nigerians, particularly as inflationary pressures continue to impact essential commodities across the country.
