As the cost of living continues to rise, access to affordable and nutritious food remains a pressing concern for households across Nigeria. The Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) serves as a crucial measure in assessing the economic and physical accessibility of nutritious food options.
According to data compiled by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the national average CoHD stood at N982 per adult per day in March 2024, marking a 4.7% increase from the previous month. Regional disparities were evident, with the South-West recording the highest average CoHD at N1,198 per day, while the North-West boasted the lowest at N787 per day.
Zooming in at the state level, Ekiti, Lagos, and Abia States emerged with the highest costs, recording N1,330, N1,249, and N1,215 respectively. Conversely, Katsina led the pack with the lowest cost at N739, followed closely by Sokoto and Zamfara at N758 and N766 respectively.
Analysing data at the zonal level further revealed disparities in CoHD across different regions. The South-West Zone exhibited the highest average CoHD at N1,198 per day, followed by the South-East Zone at N1,140 per day. In contrast, the North-West Zone reported the lowest average CoHD at N787 per day.
The CoHD represents the minimum cost required to meet globally recognised food-based dietary guidelines using locally available items, providing insights into the affordability and availability of nutritious food options for individuals. The NBS utilised data on retail food prices, food composition, and healthy diet standards to compute the CoHD indicator.
Here are the 10 states with the cheapest healthy diets:
1. Katsina
Average CoHD – N739 per day
2. Sokoto
Average CoHD – N758 per day
3. Zamfara
Average CoHD – N766 per day
4. Kaduna
Average CoHD – N777 per day
5. Niger
Average CoHD – N810 per day
6. Kogi
Average CoHD – N812 per day
7. Kebbi
Average CoHD – N821 per day
8. Kano
Average CoHD – N821 per day
9. Jigawa
Average CoHD – N826 per day
10. Kwara
Average CoHD – N838 per day
Katsina State emerges as the cheapest state to maintain a healthy diet, with residents allocating an average of N739 per day towards ensuring their nutritional needs are met without straining their finances.
