The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that the average cost of putting together a healthy diet for one adult rose sharply to ₦1,611 per day in July 2025, marking a 27.3% increase from ₦1,265 recorded in the same month last year.
According to the latest Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) report released by the NBS, the steep year-on-year jump reflects persistent inflationary pressure on nutritious foods at a time when millions of households are already struggling with food insecurity.
Regional disparities remain stark. In the South-West zone, the daily cost averaged ₦2,030, the highest in the country, followed by the South-East at ₦1,862. The North-East recorded the lowest zonal average at ₦1,341 per day.
At the state level, Ekiti State was the most expensive at ₦2,663 per adult per day, followed by Bayelsa (₦2,352) and Imo (₦2,235). The cheapest states were Gombe (₦985), Katsina (₦1,147), and Yobe (₦1,180).
Animal-source foods (meat, fish, eggs, and dairy) continued to be the biggest driver of cost, making up 32% of the total daily expense while contributing only 13% of required calories. Fruits and vegetables were the next most expensive categories in terms of cost-per-calorie, together accounting for 30% of the budget but providing just 12% of energy needs.
In contrast, legumes, nuts, and seeds remained the most affordable food group, representing only 7% of the total cost.
Month-by-month tracking showed volatility through the first seven months of 2025: the cost climbed steadily from ₦1,328 in January to ₦1,598 in April, dipped to ₦1,484 in May due to seasonal drops in oils, fats, and some staples, then resumed its upward march—rising to ₦1,514 in June and ₦1,611 in July.
The July increase was largely driven by higher prices for legumes, animal proteins, vegetables, and fruits, only partially offset by cheaper starchy staples.
Nutritionists warn that the sustained rise in the cost of healthy eating is pushing more families toward cheaper, calorie-dense but nutrient-poor diets, deepening the country’s malnutrition burden at a time when Nigeria is already grappling with one of the highest rates of stunting and wasting in sub-Saharan Africa.
