Nigerians Require ₦1,589 Daily for Healthy Diet as Food Costs Rise, NBS Reports
The National Bureau of Statistics reports the average cost of a healthy diet in Nigeria rose to ₦1,589 per adult per day in April 2026, a 3.12% monthly increase.
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The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported that Nigerians needed ₦1,589 per adult per day to afford a healthy diet in April 2026, marking a 3.12% month-on-month increase from the previous month.
This figure reflects rising food prices and growing challenges to household food security. According to the NBS Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) Report for April 2026, the national average rose from ₦1,541 per adult per day in March. The increase underscores mounting pressure on household budgets amid ongoing economic strain.
"The national average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) rose by 3.12 percent month-on-month to N1,589 per adult per day in April from N1,541 per adult per day in March 2026," the report states, as cited by Vanguard News. The Naija News also reported the same figure, noting the continued upward trend in food costs.
A healthy diet, as defined by the NBS, includes a balanced mix of food groups necessary to meet nutritional requirements. The rising cost highlights the growing difficulty for many Nigerian households to access adequate nutrition, particularly in low-income communities.
With inflation and food prices continuing to climb, the affordability of nutritious food remains a critical public health concern. The NBS data provides a benchmark for assessing food security and guiding policy responses aimed at improving access to healthy diets across the country.