Ekiti Tops List of States with Highest Cost of Healthy Diet in Nigeria — NBS Report

Ekiti Tops List of States with Highest Cost of Healthy Diet in Nigeria — NBS Report

A new report by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), published through TheCable Index, has revealed the states with the highest average daily cost of maintaining a healthy diet in Nigeria as of April 2026.

According to the data, residents of Ekiti State spent the most on a healthy diet, with an average cost of ₦2,036 per person per day. Imo State followed closely with ₦2,018, while Bayelsa ranked third at ₦1,909.

The report highlights the growing cost of nutrition across several parts of the country, particularly in the South-West and South-East regions, where many states dominate the top 10 rankings.
Top 10 States with the Highest Average Cost of a Healthy Diet (April 2026)
Ekiti — ₦2,036
Imo — ₦2,018
Bayelsa — ₦1,909
Abia — ₦1,895
Lagos — ₦1,863
Ebonyi — ₦1,784
Osun — ₦1,762
Enugu — ₦1,755
Ondo — ₦1,703
Anambra — ₦1,698

The Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) is a key indicator used by the NBS to estimate the minimum daily cost required for an individual to consume a healthy and nutritionally adequate diet based on locally available food items.

Analysts say the rising cost of food continues to place pressure on household incomes, forcing many families to spend a larger share of their earnings on nutrition and basic necessities.

The latest figures underscore the persistent challenge of food affordability across the country despite ongoing efforts to stabilize food prices and improve agricultural productivity.

The NBS data serves as an important benchmark for policymakers, researchers, and development partners seeking to address food security and nutritional challenges in Nigeria.

Source: Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) / TheCable Index.