The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a 0.8% month-on-month decline in the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD), bringing it down to ₦1,255 per adult per day in August 2024 from ₦1,265 in July. This marks the first month-on-month decline since January 2024, when the CoHD was ₦858 and steadily rose due to increased prices of legumes, nuts, seeds, starchy staples, and vegetables.
Key Findings:
- The CoHD represents the least expensive combination of locally available food items that meets global dietary guidelines, excluding transportation and meal preparation costs.
- The report indicates that the national average cost of a healthy diet was ₦1,255 per adult per day in August.
State-Level Analysis:
- The highest costs were recorded in:
- Ogun: ₦1,641
- Lagos: ₦1,615
- Rivers: ₦1,572
- The lowest costs were observed in:
- Katsina: ₦880
- Kaduna: ₦951
- Sokoto: ₦980
Zonal Analysis:
- The South West Zone had the highest average CoHD at ₦1,554 per day, followed by:
- South-South: ₦1,381 per day
- North West: ₦1,041 per day (the lowest)
Trends and Insights:
- Over the past six months, the CoHD has risen consistently, with an increase of 28% since March 2024, when it was ₦982.
- Despite the month-on-month decline in August, certain food groups contributed significantly to the rise in the CoHD:
- Legumes, nuts, and seeds were the least expensive, constituting 7% of the total cost.
- Animal source foods accounted for 37% of the total CoHD while providing only 13% of the total calories.
- Fruits and vegetables were notably expensive, contributing 11% and 14% of the total CoHD but providing only 7% and 5% of the total calories, respectively.
Conclusion: The CoHD has been rising faster than general inflation and food inflation in Nigeria, indicating ongoing challenges in the affordability of a nutritious diet. The NBS cautions that the CoHD and the food Consumer Price Index (CPI) are not directly comparable due to differences in item inclusion and measurement methodology.
