Healthy Diet Cost Soars: Ekiti, Lagos, Abia Lead as Prices Hit ₦982 per Day

 The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported that the cost of a healthy diet in Nigeria increased by 4.7% in March 2024, reaching ₦982 per adult per day.

 This is a 40% increase from October 2023 and 5% higher than the previous month.

 According to the NBS, "The National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet was ₦982 per adult per day in March 2024." The bureau also noted that "animal-source foods were the most expensive food group recommendation to meet in March, accounting for 37% of the total CoHD to provide 13% of the total calories."

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The report highlighted that the cost of a healthy diet varies across states, with Ekiti, Lagos, and Abia recording the highest costs, while Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara recorded the lowest costs. 

The NBS stated, "At the State level, Ekiti, Lagos, and Abia States recorded the highest cost with ₦1330, ₦1249, and ₦1215 respectively. Katsina accounted for the lowest costs with ₦739, followed by Sokoto and Zamfara with ₦758 and ₦766, respectively."

The report also noted that the cost of a healthy diet has risen faster than general inflation and food inflation, with the food groups that have driven the increases the most being vegetables, starchy staples, and fruits. 

The NBS said, "CoHD has steadily increased since the first CoHD report by NBS (October 2023). The CoHD in March 2024 is 40% higher than in October 2023 (₦703) and 5% higher than the CoHD in February 2024, which was ₦938."