At the core of the discussion on the affordability of a nutritious diet, Nigeria is delving into the concept of the Cost of a Diet (CoHD) as of February 2024. The recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released in Abuja outlines the CoHD, which signifies the minimum expense of a healthy diet comprising locally available items aligning with global dietary guidelines.
The CoHD metric indicates the daily expenditure per adult individual, excluding transportation and meal preparation costs. In February, the South West region recorded the highest CoHD at ₦1,157 per adult per day, followed by the South East at ₦1,077 daily. Conversely, the North West has the lowest CoHD at ₦723 per adult per day.
At the state level, Ekiti, Lagos, and Osun exhibit the highest CoHD figures, while Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara report the lowest CoHD values. Animal products emerge as the most expensive category, constituting 38% of the total CoHD for just 13% of calorie intake, whereas fruits and vegetables are the costliest groups in terms of price per calorie.
Significantly, these findings underscore a concerning trend: the CoHD is escalating at a rate faster than both general inflation and food inflation. This underscores the critical need to devise solutions that guarantee access to nutritious food for all Nigerians.
In conclusion, these insights emphasize the necessity for close collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and civil society to formulate strategies enhancing the availability and affordability of healthy diets. A cohesive approach is imperative to tackle the prevailing food security challenges in Nigeria.
For more information, you can visit the following relevant articles:
1. Pulse.ng – Cost of Healthy Diet Stood at Naira938 in February Report