The National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet increased to ₦1,241 in June 2024.
The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed this in its June edition of the ‘Cost of a Healthy Diet’ study.
The data shows a 19.2% increase over the previous month (May 2024, ₦1,041).
The Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) is the most affordable combination of locally available commodities that adhere to internationally consistent food-based dietary standards. It assesses physical and economic access to healthy diets. This is a lower limit (or floor) on the cost per adult per day, excluding transportation and lunch preparation.
In June, inflation jumped to 34.19 percent, up 0.24 percent from the NBS’s May 2024 inflation statistic.
In June 2024, the South West had the highest average CoHD rate at ₦1,545 per adult per day, while the North West had a rate of ₦956.
In recent months, the CoHD has increased faster than both general inflation and food inflation.
Ekiti, Ogun, and Osun states had the highest costs at ₦1,640, ₦1,599, and ₦1,557, respectively. Katsina, Kano, and Jigawa had the lowest expenses at ₦878, ₦926, and ₦937.
The South West Zone has the highest average CoHD of ₦1,545 per day, followed by the South-South Zone at ₦1,376 per day.
The North West Zone has the lowest average cost for a healthy diet, at ₦956 per day.
Animal-sourced foods were the most expensive food category recommendation to meet in June, accounting for 35% of the total CoHD and providing 13% of the total calories.
Fruits and vegetables were the most expensive food groups in terms of cost per calorie, accounting for 11% and 17% of total CoHD, respectively, while supplying just 7% and 5% of total calories in the Healthy Diet Basket. Legumes, nuts, and seeds were the least expensive food group on average, accounting for 7% of total costs.
Since January 2024, the CoHD has been continuously climbing.
In June 2024, the CoHD was 45% more than in January 2024 (₦858). It was also 19% higher than the cost in May 2024 (₦1,041).
Vegetables, legumes, nuts & seeds, and starchy staples are the primary contributors to this increase in CoHD.
