The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported Thursday that the southwest zone of Nigeria faced the highest nutrient struggle, with the average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) reaching N1,650 per adult daily in September 2024.
In Nigeria, CoHD represents the minimum cost of foods required to meet the Healthy Diet Basket (HDB) recommendations.
The NBS highlighted Osun State with the highest cost at N1,661, followed by Ogun at N1,650 and Lagos at N1,638, while Katsina, Jigawa, and Kebbi states had the lowest costs at N1,043, N1,087, and N1,118, respectively.
The NBS said that CoHD has been increasing steadily over six months since April 2024.
“In September 2024, the CoHD was 30 per cent higher than it was in April 2024 (N1,035). The main drivers of this increase in CoHD are Legumes, Nuts and Seeds, Starchy Staples and Animal source foods.
“On a month-month basis, it increased by 7.3 per cent compared to the cost in August 2024 (N1,255). Legumes, Nuts and Seeds recorded the smallest increase in price by 3.8 per cent” the NBS said.
The NBS noted that “Animal Source foods were the most expensive food group recommendation to meet in September, accounting for 36 per cent of the total CoHD to provide 13 per cent of the total calories.
“Fruits and vegetables were the most expensive food groups in terms of price per calorie; they accounted for 11 per cent and 15 per cent respectively, of total CoHD while providing only 7 per cent and 5 per cent of total calories in the Healthy Diet Basket.
“Legumes, Nuts and Seeds were the least-expensive food group on average, at 7 per cent of the total cost.”
Regionally, the highest average CoHD was in the South West Zone at N1,598 per day, followed by the South-South Zone at N1,462 per day. The North West Zone had the lowest at N1,144 per day.
The August report noted that palm oil was the least expensive Oils and Fats item in 81 per cent of State-Sectors, while shelled groundnuts led in the Legumes, Nuts, and Seeds group in 69 per cent of State-Sectors.
“Coconuts were selected as a least-cost item for the Fruits Food Group in 42 per cent of State-Sectors,” the report added.
