Cost of healthy diet up 32% in 5 months
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Latest figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show the cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) jacked up 32 per cent to N1,041 per adult per day in May 2024 from N786 in December 2023, as Nigerians scrape to barely exist under the consequences of President Bola Tinubu’s poorly implemented social and economic policies.
The NBS disclosed in its CoHD report for May 2024 that the rise was driven by increase in the prices of starchy staples, legumes, nuts and seeds, and animal source foods.
CoHD jumped 9.2 per cent month-on-month (MoM) to N858 in January 2024 from N786 in December 2023. It increased 9.3 per cent from N938 in February to N982 in March, and by 5.4 per cent from N1,035 in April to N1,041 in May.
“The national average cost of a healthy diet was N1,041 per adult per day in May 2024. The CoHD has been steadily rising over the past six (6) months, since December 2023,” the report said.
“In May 2024, the CoHD was 32 percent higher than it was in December 2023 (N786). It was also 1.0 percent higher than the cost in April 2024 (N1,035).
“The main drivers of this increase in CoHD are starchy staples, legumes, nuts and seeds, and animal source foods. Vegetables and fruits, on the other hand, saw the smallest increase in price month-on-month.”
Fruits and vegetables most expensive food group
“Animal source foods were the most expensive food group recommendation to meet in May, accounting for 36 percent of the total CoHD to provide 13 percent of the total calories,” the report added.
“Fruits and vegetables were the most expensive food groups in terms of price per calorie. They accounted for 11 percent and 12 percent, respectively, of total CoHD, while providing only 7.0 percent and 5.0 percent of total calories in the healthy diet basket.
“Legumes, nuts and seeds were the least-expensive food group on average, at 7.0 percent of the total cost.”
State level
The NBS said Ebonyi had the highest average CoHD with N1,225 per adult per day, Kano accounted for the lowest at N898.
Zonal level
The South East racked up the highest CoHD with N1,189 per day, the North West came up with the lowest at N919 per day.
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