The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) per adult per day was N938 in February 2024. This figure, outlined in the CoHD report for February 2024, was released by the NBS in Abuja. The CoHD represents the most affordable combination of locally available items that align with globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines, serving as a measure of both physical and economic access to healthy diets.
The NBS clarified that the CoHD indicator represents a lower bound (or floor) of the cost per adult per day, excluding transportation and meal preparation costs. To calculate this indicator, data on Retail Food Prices, Food Composition Data, and Healthy Diet Standard were utilized. In February, the average CoHD varied across regions, with the southwest recording the highest average at N1,157 per adult per day, followed by the southeast 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 had the highest CoHD at N1,295, N1,195, and N1,184, respectively, while Katsina had the lowest at N673, followed by Sokoto and Zamfara at N714 and N720, respectively. Animal-source foods were identified as the most expensive food group recommendation to meet in February, accounting for 38% of the total CoHD but providing only 13% of the total calories.
The report also highlighted that in recent months, the CoHD had increased faster than general inflation and food inflation. While the food Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by approximately four percent between January and February, the CoHD increased by nine percent. These findings have significant policy implications, urging collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and civil society actors to address food security challenges and ensure the availability, access, and affordability of healthy diets.
