NBS data shows widening regional gaps as animal protein and fresh produce drive affordability pressures across households…..
Nigeria’s food affordability crisis worsened in February 2026, with the average cost of maintaining a healthy diet rising to N1,513 per adult per day, underscoring continued pressure on household incomes amid persistent food price inflation.
Fresh data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) increased by 3.76 per cent compared to January 2026, when it stood at N1,458. On a year-on-year basis, the figure rose by 12.4 per cent from N1,346 recorded in February 2025.
The CoHD measures the cheapest combination of locally available foods capable of meeting basic nutritional requirements for an adult per day, excluding transport and cooking costs.
According to the report, significant regional disparities persist across the country, reflecting differences in food supply chains, market access, transportation costs, and local production capacity.
The South-East recorded the highest average cost at N1,889 per adult per day, followed closely by the South-West at N1,786. In contrast, the North-East remained the most affordable region, with an average cost of N1,160.
At the state level, rural Borno recorded the lowest cost nationwide at N797 per adult per day, highlighting stark variations in food pricing across Nigeria’s diverse markets.
The NBS noted that animal-source foods accounted for the largest share of healthy diet costs, making up 39 per cent of total expenditure despite contributing just 13 per cent of total calorie intake.
Fruits and vegetables also placed significant pressure on household budgets, representing 30 per cent of total diet costs while accounting for only 12 per cent of calorie consumption.
In contrast, legumes, nuts, and seeds remained the most affordable food group, contributing just 7 per cent of total costs.
Although prices of starchy staples showed slight declines during the review period, increases in the cost of fruits, legumes, and animal protein products were enough to push overall diet expenses higher.
The report also highlighted sharp differences in food affordability across states. In urban Ekiti, white beans were identified as the cheapest legume option, while in rural Borno, soya beans offered the most affordable protein alternative. For animal-source foods, shrimps were cheapest in urban Ekiti, while fresh milk (nono) ranked as the most affordable option in rural Borno.
Nigeria’s rising food costs continue to be driven by a combination of structural and economic challenges, including insecurity in farming regions, high transportation costs, currency depreciation, flooding, and weak storage infrastructure that leads to post-harvest losses.
Energy and logistics costs have further increased the price of moving agricultural produce across the country, compounding supply-side pressures.
While government interventions have focused on boosting local food production through mechanised farming, dry-season cultivation, and improved storage systems, inflationary pressures have remained persistent.
The NBS noted that the Cost of a Healthy Diet has been rising faster than both headline inflation and food inflation, although it stressed that the indicators use different methodologies and consumption baskets.
Nigeria’s headline inflation stood at 15.69 per cent in April 2026, while food inflation recorded 16.06 per cent year-on-year, reflecting continued strain on consumer purchasing power despite marginal improvements compared to the previous year.
