The latest diet indicator launched by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has shown that an average Nigerian adult spent N786 per day to access healthy food in December 2023.

The indicator, called the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD), is considered the amount needed for the least expensive combination of locally available items that meet globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines, according to a statement signed by Adeyemi Adeniran, CEO of the National Economic Data Agency, on Wednesday.

Despite the steady basic food inflation nationally since the removal of petrol subsidies, the CoHD stated that the national average costs of eating healthy meals daily in October and November were N742 and N703, respectively.

The agency had lowered the benchmark for measuring employment and unemployment rates in April 2023, suggesting that anybody who works for one hour per day for money is employed. As the revised methodology pegged the unemployment rate at 4.1 percent, Nigerians reacted with mixed feelings, with many arguing that the figure did not reflect the country’s reality.

READ ALSO: Food Inflation Report Shows Jollof for 5 People Now Costs N13,106

FULL TEXT

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) today, announced the launch of a new indicator, the “Cost of a Healthy Diet.” This indicator was produced in collaboration with esteem partners such as the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

The Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) is the least expensive combination of locally available items that meet globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines, used as a measure of physical and economic access to healthy diets. This is a lower bound (or floor) of the cost per adult per day excluding the cost of transportation and meal preparation.

The data for this indicator is derived from the comprehensive food price, a key component used in calculating the inflation rate. This indicator will provide invaluable insights into the current station of nutrition and affordability across the nation.

Available data on this indicator reveals the following:

The national average Cost of a Healthy Diet was N703 in October 2023. In October 2023, the average CoHD was highest in the South-East at N918 per adult per day, compared to N605 per adult per day in the North-East, which was the lowest.

In November 2023, the national average Cost of Healthy Diet was N742. The average CoHD was highest in the South-East at N920 per adult per day, compared to N616 per adult per day in the North-East, in November.

In December 2023, the national average Cost of a Healthy Diet was N786. The average CoHD was highest in the South West at N979 per adult per day, compared to N663 per adult per day in the North0-West.

READ ALSO: How Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Flew From 6.62 to 24.08 Percent

In recent months, the CoHD has risen faster than general inflation and food inflation. However, the CoHD and the food CPI are not directly comparable. The CoHD includes fewer items and is measured in Naira per day, while the food CPI is a weighted index. The results from this indicator can support an integral part of the Nigerian government’s commitment to improving the health and quality of life for its citizens by informing agricultural, economic and health policies.

This data also holds immense significance for policymakers and stakeholders involved in health and nutrition. The findings will be instrumental in crafting evidence-based policies aimed at improving the nutritional well-being of the population and contribute to progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 2.