ABUJA — Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals that maintaining a basic healthy diet has become increasingly unaffordable for many Nigerian workers. In states like Ekiti, Imo, and Abia, the cost of nutritious food now consumes over 87% of the national minimum wage.
State-Level Cost Rankings
The NBS "Cost of a Healthy Diet" (CoHD) report for March 2026 highlights a significant disparity in food affordability across the country. The national average cost to maintain a healthy diet stood at ₦1,541 per adult per day.
At the state level, the daily cost for a healthy diet in the most expensive regions is as follows:
| State | Daily Cost (per adult) |
|---|---|
| Ekiti | ₦2,091 |
| Imo | ₦2,052 |
| Abia | ₦1,970 |
Impact on Minimum Wage
For a worker earning the ₦70,000 national minimum wage, these costs present a severe financial burden.When calculated on a monthly basis (using a 30-day month), the cost of a healthy diet in these states consumes a massive portion of the worker's total income, leaving very little for other essential expenses like rent, transportation, electricity, and healthcare.
Ekiti: A healthy monthly diet costs approximately ₦62,730, which is roughly 89.6% of the ₦70,000 minimum wage.
Regional Trends: The South-East zone recorded the highest zonal average cost of ₦1,899 per day, followed closely by the South-West at ₦1,801 per day. Conversely, states like Adamawa (₦1,004), the Federal Capital Territory (₦1,113), and Taraba (₦1,149) recorded the lowest costs in the country.
Drivers of Food Costs
Analysts attribute the high cost of healthy food in these regions to several structural challenges:
Logistical Disruptions: Ongoing security concerns and "sit-at-home" enforcements in parts of the South-East have disrupted supply chains, preventing farmers from reaching urban markets.
Transportation Costs: Persistent fuel price pressures and illegal checkpoints on major routes have significantly increased the cost of moving goods, which is subsequently passed on to consumers.
Infrastructure: Inadequate road networks and post-harvest losses continue to hamper the efficiency of food distribution.
Nutrition experts warn that these figures indicate a growing risk of malnutrition, as workers are forced to compromise on the quality of their diet to survive the cost-of-living crisis.
