The cost of maintaining a healthy diet in Nigeria continued its upward trend in March 2026, with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reporting a 4.38 per cent year-on-year increase in the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD).

According to the NBS report titled “Trend in the Cost of a Healthy Diet” released on Tuesday, the average daily cost of a healthy diet rose from N1,477 in March 2025 to N1,541 in March 2026.

The report noted that the CoHD has maintained a steady increase over the past year, reflecting the persistent rise in food prices across the country.

At the state level, Ekiti recorded the highest cost of a healthy diet at N2,091 per day, followed by Imo at N2,052 and Abia at N1,970. In contrast, Adamawa posted the lowest cost at N1,004, while the Federal Capital Territory and Taraba recorded N1,113 and N1,149 respectively.

On a zonal basis, the South-East had the highest average daily cost of a healthy diet at N1,899, followed by the South-West at N1,801. The North-East recorded the lowest average cost at N1,233 per day.

The NBS further disclosed that animal-source foods remained the most expensive component of a healthy diet in March 2026, accounting for 39 per cent of the total CoHD while contributing only 13 per cent of total calorie intake.

Fruits and vegetables were also among the most expensive food groups in terms of cost per calorie. Fruits accounted for 16 per cent of the total CoHD and vegetables 14 per cent, despite contributing only seven per cent and five per cent respectively to total calorie intake. Legumes, nuts and seeds remained the least expensive food group, accounting for just seven per cent of total diet cost.

Explaining the trend, the NBS stated that while the prices of starchy staples and vegetables declined slightly, other food groups recorded increases, contributing to the overall rise in the cost of a healthy diet.

“On a month-on-month basis, the cost increased by 1.89 per cent compared to February 2026 when it stood at N1,513. The increase was driven by rising prices across most food groups,” the report stated.

Nigeria has continued to grapple with rising food prices, a development that has significantly driven food inflation in recent months. The NBS linked the increase in food inflation to the growing cost of maintaining a healthy diet.

The bureau explained that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures changes in the prices of goods and services consumed by households, while the food index specifically tracks changes in food prices. According to the report, both food prices and the Cost of a Healthy Diet are expected to rise over time.

The report added that the Cost of a Healthy Diet remains an important indicator of food access and food security, providing useful insights for governments, development partners, civil society organisations, researchers and the private sector.