The Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) has resumed its upward trend, rising by 7.2% to N1,346 per adult per day (papd) in September, up from N1,255 in August.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its latest CoHD report, released yesterday, highlighted that the CoHD has increased for six straight months, with a minor decline of 0.79% in August from N1,265 in July before resuming its climb in September.
According to the NBS, “The National average CoHD was N1,346 per adult per day in September 2024.”
The report noted that animal-based foods represented the highest cost portion, making up 36% of total expenses yet only contributing 13% of the total calorie count.
Fruits and vegetables were also costly in terms of calories, comprising 11% and 15% of total CoHD, while providing just 7% and 5% of total calories in the Healthy Diet Basket. By contrast, legumes, nuts, and seeds proved the most economical, accounting for only 7% of the overall cost.
The NBS report indicated a steady rise in CoHD since April 2024, with the September figure being 30% higher than in April (N1,035). The price increase has been driven mainly by animal-based foods, legumes, nuts, seeds, and starchy staples.
At the state level, Osun, Ogun, and Lagos recorded the highest daily costs at N1,661, N1,650, and N1,639, respectively, while Katsina, Jigawa, and Kebbi had the lowest at N1,043, N1,087, and N1,118, respectively.
Regionally, the South West zone saw the highest average daily CoHD at N1,598, followed by the South-South zone at N1,462, with the North West zone recording the lowest at N1,144 per day.
