Healthy Food will Cost an Average of N786 says NBS

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the average cost of a nutritious diet in December 2023 was N786.

As a gauge of both physical and financial access to healthy meals, the CoHD indicates the least-priced combination of locally accessible foods that satisfy internationally recognized food-based dietary standards.

In a statement made public on Wednesday, NBS Statistician-General/Chief Executive Officer Adeyemi Adeniran disclosed this.

The head of NBS said that “the CoHD is a lower bound (or floor) of the cost per adult per day excluding the cost of transportation and meal preparation,” adding that the CoHD is a recently introduced indicator.

According to report, the CoHD rose from N742 in November 2023 to 5.9% in December 2023.

According to the statement, “the National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet was N786” in December 2023.

“The average CoHD was highest in the South West at N979 per adult per day, compared to N663 per adult per day in the North West,” the report added for December.

“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” for November 2023.

According to the data, “the average CoHD in October 2023 was N703, with the South East having the highest average CoHD at N918 per adult per day, while the North East had the lowest average at N605 per adult per day.”

The statement went on to say that “comprehensive food price data,” which is “a key component in calculating the inflation rate,” is where the CoHD indicator was derived.

Findings from the new indicator, according to Adeniran, would “provide invaluable insights into the current state of nutrition and affordability across the nation.”

According to him, the indicator can help the Federal Government fulfill its promise to enhance Nigerians’ health and standard of living.

The head of NBS went on to say that “policymakers and stakeholders involved in health and nutrition” find the average CoHD data to be important.

“The results will play a crucial role in developing evidence-based strategies targeted at enhancing the dietary health of the populace and advancing the Sustainable Development Goal 2,” stated the Head of NBS.

In cooperation with the Federal Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, Agriculture and Food Security, Budget and Economic Planning, and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, the CoHD indicator was created.

Meanwhile, the CoHD has increased more quickly in recent months than both overall and food inflation, according to the NBS.

Though the CoHD covers fewer goods and is measured in Naira per day, the food CPI is a weighted index, hence it was pointed out that the two are not directly comparable.

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