The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has launched a new ‘Cost of a Healthy Diet’ (CoHD) indicator for the fourth quarter of 2023 in furtherance of its statutory mandate of providing evidence-based and timely statistical data for Nigeria’s sustainable development.
The CoHD indicator was produced by the statistics agency in collaboration with one of the development partners – Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
According to the Bureau, the 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.
Similarly, it is a lower bound (or floor) of the cost per adult per day excluding the cost of transportation and meal preparation.
The NBS further hinted that the data for the CoHD indicator was sourced from the comprehensive food price data, a key component used in calculating the inflation rate, adding that the indicator will provide invaluable insights into the current state of nutrition and affordability across the nation.
Giving insights into the data on the indicator, the statistics agency disclosed that the national average Cost of a Healthy Diet was N703 in October 2023 and that in the month under review, 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.
It also reported that in November 2023, the national average CoHD increased to N742 and that when analyzed on region-by-region basis, 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, representing the lowest among the geo-political zones
The Bureau confirmed in the report’s findings that in December 2023, the national average Cost of a Healthy Diet surged to N786, and that 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 lowest based on regional assessment.
It noted that in recent months, the CoHD rose faster than the general inflation and food inflation, pointing out, however, that the CoHD and the food CPI are not directly comparable.
For instance, the statistics agency indicated that the CoHD included fewer items and was measured in Naira per day, while the food CPI remained a weighted index.
On the importance of the CoHD to national development, the Bureau, in a statement signed by the Statistician-General of the Federation/Chief Executive Officer, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, clarified: “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”, it added.
