The CoHD is an indicator that points to the least expensive combination of locally available items that meet globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines, used as a measure of physical and economic access to healthy diets.
This was revealed by the NBS Statistician-General/Chief Executive Officer, Adeyemi Adeniran, in a statement released on Wednesday.
The NBS boss, who stated that the CoHD is a newly launched indicator, added that “the CoHD is a lower bound (or floor) of the cost per adult per day excluding the cost of transportation and meal preparation.”
PUNCH Online findings revealed that the CoHD increased to 5.9 per cent in December 2023, as compared to N742 in November 2023.
The statement noted that in December 2023, “the National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet was N786.”
It also stated that for December, “the average CoHD was highest in the South West at N979 per adult per day, compared to N663 per adult per day in North West.”
For November 2023, “the average CoHD was highest in the South East at N920 per adult per day, compared to N616 per adult per day in North East.”
Also, in October 2023, the average CoHD was N703, adding that the average CoHD was “highest in the South East at N918 per adult per day, compared to N605 per adult per day in North East.”
The statement disclosed further that the CoHD indicator was derived from the “comprehensive food price data” which is a “key component in calculating the inflation rate.”
Adeniran noted that results from the new indicator will “provide invaluable insights into the current state of nutrition and affordability across the nation.”
He stated that the indicator can support the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the health and quality of life of Nigerians.
The NBS boss added that the data from the average CoHD is significant to “policymakers and stakeholders involved in health and nutrition.
“The findings will be instrumental in crafting evidence-based policies aimed at improving the nutritional well-being of the population and contribute to progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 2,” the NBS boss said.
The CoHD indicator was produced in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The NBS stated that, however, in recent months, the CoHD has risen faster than general inflation and food inflation.
It, however, noted that the CoHD and the food Consumer Index Price (CPI) are not directly comparable, adding that the CoHD includes fewer items and is measured in Naira per day, while the food CPI is a weighted index.
