RismadarVoice Reporters, June 4, 2026
The financial strain of maintaining a healthy diet in Nigeria has continued to deepen, even as headline inflation shows signs of moderation. A new report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates that the average cost of a healthy diet rose to ₦1,541 per adult per day in March 2026.
This represents a 4.4 per cent increase compared to ₦1,477 recorded in the same period of 2025, underscoring persistent pressure on household food budgets.
Although inflation had been on a gradual decline up to February 2026, the trend saw a slight reversal in March and April, with food-related costs contributing significantly to the uptick.
On a month-on-month basis, the cost of a nutritious diet increased by 1.89 per cent, rising from ₦1,513 in February to ₦1,541 in March. The NBS attributed the increase to higher prices across nearly all major food categories.
“The national average Cost of a Healthy Diet was N1,541 per adult per day in March 2026,” the report stated.
“The increase was driven by the rise in prices across all food groups.”
The report highlights significant differences in food affordability across Nigeria’s regions and states, with southern states recording much higher costs than their northern counterparts.
At the state level, Ekiti State recorded the highest cost of a healthy diet at ₦2,091 per day, followed by Imo State at ₦2,052 and Abia State at ₦1,970.
On the other end of the spectrum, Adamawa State recorded the lowest cost at ₦1,004, while the Federal Capital Territory (₦1,113) and Taraba State (₦1,149) also remained relatively cheaper.
By geopolitical zone, the South-East emerged as the most expensive region, averaging ₦1,899 per day, closely followed by the South-West at ₦1,801. The North-East recorded the lowest average at ₦1,233.
The NBS report shows that rising food costs are not uniform across food categories. Animal-source foods, in particular, accounted for the largest share of spending pressure, making up 39 per cent of total daily diet costs while contributing only 13 per cent of calorie intake.
Fruits and vegetables also placed heavy pressure on household budgets due to their relatively high cost per calorie. Fruits accounted for 16 per cent of total spending but provided only 7 per cent of calorie intake, while vegetables absorbed 14 per cent of spending yet contributed just 5 per cent of calories.
In contrast, legumes, nuts, and seeds were identified as the most cost-efficient dietary group, accounting for just 7 per cent of total expenditure.
The findings point to a widening gap between income levels and the cost of maintaining a nutritionally adequate diet, even amid broader inflation slowdown indicators.
While headline inflation figures may suggest some easing in price pressures, the cost of eating healthily continues to rise, placing additional strain on millions of Nigerian households already grappling with high living costs.
