Katsina Leads as State With Most Affordable Healthy Diet in Nigeria
By Mustapha Salisu
In a recent analysis of the latest Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) data, Katsina State has emerged as the state offering the most cost-effective and nutritious diet during the month of Ramadan nationwide.
With an average CoHD of N629 per adult per day, Katsina sets an example for efficiently balancing dietary requirements with financial considerations during the holy month of Ramadan.
Experts emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy diet during Ramadan to sustain optimal health and energy levels, given the fasting from dawn to sunset necessitates careful management of nutrient intake.
They advocate for the selection of nutritious, well-balanced meals for Suhoor and Iftar to support physical and spiritual well-being throughout the holy month.
However, the narrative of food affordability shifted notably in January 2024, as the National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet rose to N858, marking a significant increase from the N786 per adult per day recorded in December 2023, according to a new report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
A regional breakdown of the CoHD figures in January 2024 reveals the South West bearing the highest average CoHD at N1,045 per adult per day, contrasting with the North West’s more modest average cost of N683 per adult per day.
While Katsina leads with the latest Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) of N629 per adult per day, Niger State emerges as the second most economical option, tied with Katsina, both offering a CoHD of N629, indicating the potential for a nutritious Ramadan within a modest budget.
Other states include Kano securing the third spot with an average of N649 for a healthy diet per person per day, followed by Jigawa with N676, Sokoto and Kebbi N685, and Zamfara N704.
Nasarawa’s Average CoHD stands at N731 per adult per day, positioning it as the eighth state where Muslims can maintain a healthy diet, while Kogi State stands at N733, and in Kaduna, residents pay an average CoHD of N749 per person per day. Despite being the most expensive city on this list of cheapest states, it serves as a beacon for those seeking a balance between affordability and nutrition in the North-Western region of Nigeria.
PRIME TIME NEWS gathered that The Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) is a metric that leverages the availability, pricing, and nutritional composition of retail food items to identify the most cost-effective assortment of food items aligning with the standards of a healthy diet.
Source: Nairametrics
