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  • NBS: Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.46% in third quarter

    NBS: Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.46% in third quarter

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate in real terms (Constant price) grew by 3.46% in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024 on a year-on-year basis.

    The Statistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran broke the news in a press statement on Monday, November 25.

    He said the growth is 0.92 percentage points higher than the rate recorded in Q3 2023 (2.54%). 

    The statement added that the Quarter was higher by 0.27 percentage points relative to the 3.19% recorded in the second quarter (Q2) of 2024.

    “This reflects a higher growth rate when compared to the corresponding quarter (Q3 2023) and the preceding quarter (Q2 2024). The major driver of the economy is the Services sector, which recorded a growth of 5.19% and contributed 53.58% to the aggregate GDP. 

    “The economic activity in real terms for Q3 2024 stood at N20.1tr, which is higher than the rates recorded in the preceding Q2 2024 which stood at N18.2tr , and the corresponding quarter Q3 2023 which recorded N19.4tr.”

    He stated that nominal terms (current price), aggregate GDP stood at N71.1tr in Q3 2024, indicating a year-on-year nominal growth rate of 17.26% compared to the value of NN60.tr recorded in Q3 2023. 

    “Similarly, the quarter under review is higher than the value of N60.9tr  recorded in the preceding quarter (Q2 2024).

    “The major contributing economic activities in real terms in the quarter under review (i.e., Q3 2024) are Crop Production 26.51%, Trade 14.78%, Telecommunication 13.94%, Crude petroleum 5.57% and Real Estate 5.43%. On a broad classification of the economic activities into Agriculture, Industry, and Services sectors based on growth. The Agricultural Sector grew by 1.14% in Q3 2024 in real terms, which is less than Q3 2023 which recorded 1.30%. 

    “The industry grew by 2.18% in Q3 2024, which shows improvement compared to the figure recorded in Q3 2023 (0.46%). While the Services sector grew by 5.19% higher than 3.99% recorded in Q3 2023. 

    “Analyses of the contributions of the broad economic sectors in the period under review. Agriculture contributed 28.65%, Industry 17.77%, and Services 53.58%. Agriculture and industry contributions were less than their contributions in Q3 2023 by 0.66% and 0.22%, while the Services sector had the highest contribution to the GDP in Q3 2024, surpassing the Service sector’s contribution in the corresponding quarter of 2023 by 0.88% percentage points. 

    “Further disaggregation of the economic activities into oil and non-oil sectors.  The oil GDP grew by 5.17% in Q3 2024, which shows improvement compared to Q3 2023 (-0.85%), but less than the previous quarter of Q2 2024 which recorded 10.15%. Similarly, the oil sector accounted for 5.57% of the total GDP during the quarter under review.”

    Read Also: NBS unveils 5th general household survey panel 

    “The third quarter of 2024 recorded an average daily oil production of 1.47 million barrels per day (mbpd), higher than the daily average production of 1.45 mbpd recorded in the same quarter of 2023 by 0.02 mbpd and higher than the second quarter of 2024 production volume of 1.41 mbpd by 0.07 mbpd.

    “In real terms, the non-oil sector contributes 94.43% to the GDP in Q3 of 2024. This shows a decrease on a year-on-year basis compared to the same period in 2023, which stood at 94.52% but higher than Q2 2024, which recorded 94.30%.”

    He said the economic performance of the non-oil sector in Q3 2024 is attributed to the growth recorded in some economic activities, like crop Production in the Agriculture sector, Trade, Telecommunication, and Real Estate in the Services Sector. 

  • NBS unveils 5th general household survey panel 

    NBS unveils 5th general household survey panel 

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has unveiled the fifth wave of the  General Household Survey- Panel(GHS-Panel) which will help track the resilience of Nigerian households over time.

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the GHS- Panel Wave 5 2023/2024, which was carried out by the NBS in partnership with the World Bank, was unveiled in Abuja on Thursday.

    Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician-General of the Federation, said the GHS Panel survey was a multi-topic data collection exercise that served as an essential tool for capturing the dynamics of Nigerian households.

    Adeniran said the survey was important because it provided invaluable insights into their economic activities, well-being, and resilience.

    “It specifically collects information on household income, assets and consumption, income-generating activities, health, education, shocks, and much more.

    “It is a longitudinal survey, meaning that it tracks and interviews the same respondents over time.

    “ In this case, with this being the 5th Wave of the survey, approximately the same 5,000 households have been followed and interviewed across five waves and wave one was conducted in 2010/2011.

    He said the panel approach allowed for some interesting analysis to be done, which could better tell the story of life in Nigeria and the living conditions of Nigerians.

    “ For example, using data from Waves Four and Five, an asset index was created which categorised households into three groups based on their wealth transition across time.

    “41.7 per cent of the households stayed in the same wealth quintile as reported in Wave 4, while 29.4 per cent experienced an upward shift, and 28.9 per cent experienced a decline in their position in the wealth distribution.

    “The key factors influencing these changes included environmental and economic shocks, with households experiencing downward mobility more likely to report being affected by floods and post-harvest losses as the main cause of the changes.”

    Read Also: Petrol price rises by 87.88 percent in one year, says NBS

    Adeniran said the most important was the impact of the survey in terms of its contribution to knowledge and the application of its findings to the design of policies and programmes.

    “Available records indicate that, over the last five years, the survey findings have been used to design several projects and intervention programmes worth approximately 8.9 billion Dollars across many sectors.

    “These  sectors include Agriculture and Food, Education, Water, Social Protection and Jobs, Governance, and several others.”

    Adeniran said for the 5th  wave of the survey,  enhanced modules that captured key aspects such as migration patterns, remittances and the impacts of climate-related shocks were introduced.

    He said additional modules on children were also incorporated, with one of the modules capturing early childhood development, and identifying the main caregivers of the children in the household.

    “ I, therefore, encourage all policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders here today to engage with the data and use these insights to drive evidence-based decisions and policy-making across your work.

    “ Whether for poverty reduction initiatives, social welfare programmes, or economic development strategies, the findings of this report offer a powerful foundation for addressing the specific needs of all Nigerians,” he said.

    Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, said the outcome of the survey would serve as a centre stage for proper planning.

    Bagudu, represented by Dr Zainab Pisagih, Director of Planning in the ministry, said the survey findings would help with decision-making, strategic planning, and allocation of resources to the right channels.

    “ The survey will change the way we think at the planning stage  and help us stay focused so we can plan better for the Nigerian economy.”

    Dr Ndiame Diop, World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, said the survey was important in understanding how Nigerian households responded to policy changes, crises and shocks.

    Diop was represented  by Vinay Vutukuru, Programme Leader, Sustainable Development, Nigeria.

    Diop, however, said the key thing was how the data would be used by ministries and stakeholders for effective policy formulation to achieve economic and sustainable growth.

    He pledged the bank’s continuous support in working with the NBS to strengthen Nigeria’s statistical system.

    (NAN)

  • NBS findings used to design $8.9b projects

    NBS findings used to design $8.9b projects

    ….says rural access to electricity is 40.4 percent

    The findings from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have been used for designing project interventions worth $ 8.9 billion in several sectors in the country.

    Statistician-General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday at the official report launch and dissemination of the General Household Survey – Panel, Wave 5.

    He said: “Available records indicate that, over the last five years, the survey findings have been used to design several projects and intervention programs worth approximately $ 8.9 billion across many sectors which include agriculture and food, education, water, social protection and jobs, governance, and several others.”

    Adeniran said other interesting stories such as Energy access in Nigeria can be told from the findings of the survey.

    He said the results show a significant divide between urban and rural access to electricity: 82.2 percent of urban households have electricity, compared to 40.4 percent in rural areas, with households facing an average of 6.7 power blackouts weekly, nationally.

    He said a detailed module on shocks collected additional information about climate shocks in the country.

    Read Also: Petrol price rises by 87.88 percent in one year, says NBS

    Adeniran said however, households reported economic shock as the most prevalent kind of shock experienced, with 71.0 percent of households reporting the price increase on major food items.

    He explained as coordinator of the statistical system and the authoritative source of official statistics, the GHS Panel provides a platform for NBS to achieve several of its mandates in a swoop.

    He said not only does it allow the Bureau to meet the mandate of providing data to its users, but it also provides a good place for it to enhance its ability to innovate and to test and explore modern methods and approaches to survey implementation.

    On the launched survey, he explained that “it is a longitudinal survey, meaning that it tracks and interviews the same respondents over time. In this case, with this being the 5th Wave of the survey, approximately the same five thousand households have been followed and interviewed across five waves.

    “This includes Wave One conducted in 2010/11, Wave Two in 2012/13, Wave Three in 2015/16, Wave Four in 2018/19, and now Wave Five conducted in 2023/24.

    “This is a significant accomplishment for NBS and the Nigerian Statistical System. It is certainly the first for any African National Statistics Office.

    “This panel approach allows for some interesting analysis to be done which can better tell the story of life in Nigeria and the living conditions of Nigerians.”

    He cited an instance that using data from Waves Four and Five, an asset index was created which categorized households into three groups based on their wealth transition across time.

    According to him, 41.7 percent of the households stayed in the same wealth quintile as reported in Wave 4, while 29.4 percent experienced an upward shift, and 28.9 percent experienced a decline in their position in wealth distribution.

    He said the key factors influencing these changes included environmental and economic shocks, with households experiencing downward mobility more likely to report being affected by floods and post-harvest losses as the main cause of the changes.

  • Petrol price rises by 87.88 percent in one year, says NBS

    Petrol price rises by 87.88 percent in one year, says NBS

    …as diesel price soars by 43.41 percent

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday said the average retail price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) rose by 87.88 per cent in one year.

    It also said the price soared from N630.63 per litre in October 2023 to N1,184.83 per litre in October 2024.

    NBS made this known in its document titled: “Premium Motor Spirit Price Watch October 2024.”

    The document said: “The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) for October 2024 was N1184.83, indicating a 87.88% increase compared to the value recorded in October 2023 (N630.63).”

    The report said likewise, comparing the average price value with the previous month (.i.e. September 2024), the average retail price increased by 14.98% from N1030.46.

    On State profile analysis, NBS said, Ebonyi State had the highest average retail price for Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol), at N1292.86, Jigawa and Borno States were next, with N1288.18 and N1283.79, respectively.

    It added that conversely, Delta, Nasarawa, and Lagos States had the lowest average retail prices for Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol), at N1,050.00, N1,063.68, and N1,080.95 respectively.

    NBS said lastly, on the Zonal profile, the South East Zone had the highest average retail price of N1256.76, while the North-Central Zone had the lowest price of N1132.94.

    Similarly, the Bureau said the average retail price of Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) paid by consumers increased by 43.41% on a year-on-year basis from a lower cost of N1004.98 per litre recorded in the corresponding month of last year (i.e., October 2023) to a higher cost of N1441.28 Per litre in October 2024.

    NBS said on a month-on-month basis, an increase of 1.58% was recorded from N1418.83 in September 2024 to an average of N1441.28 in October 2024. Its document titled “Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) Price Watch October 2024,” made this known.

    Read Also: How NNPCL intervention may bring down Dangote petrol price

    It said looking at the variations in the State prices, the top three States with the highest average price of the product in October 2024 include Bauchi State (N2031.00), Benue State (N1792.00), and Plateau State (N1743.65).

    The report added that the top three lowest prices were recorded in the following State namely, Ogun State (N1200.71), Kaduna (N1244.50), and Ekiti State (N1278.65).

    NBS said the Zonal representation of the average price of Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) shows that the North East Zone has the highest price of N1650.62 while the South West Zone has the lowest price of N1326.50 when compared with other Zones.

  • Cost of healthy diet stood at N1,346 in September – NBS

    Cost of healthy diet stood at N1,346 in September – NBS

    The National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) per adult a day stood at N1,346 in September 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said.

    The NBS revealed this in its CoHD report for September 2024 released on Monday in Abuja.

    The bureau said that the CoHD in September increased by 7.3 per cent compared to the N1,255 recorded in August.

    The NBS said the CoHD was the least expensive combination of locally available items that met globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines.

    It said it was used as a measure of physical and economic access to healthy diets.

    “This is a lower bound (or floor) of the cost per adult per day excluding the cost of transportation and meal preparation.”

    The bureau said that to compute the CoHD indicator, the following data on Retail Food Prices, Food Composition Data, and Healthy Diet Standard were required.

    The NBS also said that in September, the average CoHD was highest in the South-West at N1,598 per adult per day, followed by the South-South at N1,462 per day.

    It said the lowest average CoHD was recorded in the North-West at N1,144 per adult per day.

    The NBS further said that at the state level Osun, Ogun and Lagos recorded the highest CoHD at N1,661, N1,650, and N1,639, respectively.

    The bureau said Katsina recorded the lowest CoHD at N1.043, followed by Jigawa at N1,087, and Kebbi at N1,118.

    The NBS said CoHD had steadily increased over the past six months, since April 2024.

    Read Also: NBS ‘won’t push wrong figures’

    “The CoHD in September 2024 is 30 per cent higher than what was recorded in April 2024 at N1,035.

    “The food groups that have driven the increases in CoHD are legumes, nuts and seeds, starchy staples, and animal source foods.

    “Legumes, Nuts and Seeds recorded the smallest increase in price by 3.8 per cent on a monthly basis.”

    The report added that animal-source foods were the most expensive food group recommendation to meet in September accounting for 36 per cent of the total CoHD to provide 13 per cent of the total calories.

    It noted that fruits and vegetables were the most expensive food groups in terms of price per calorie.

    “They accounted for 11 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, of the total CoHD while providing only seven per cent and five per cent of total calories in the Healthy Diet Basket.

    “Legumes, nuts and seeds were the least-expensive food group on average, at seven per cent of the total cost.’’

    The report also said that in recent months, the CoHD had risen faster than general inflation and food inflation.

    “However, the CoHD and the food Consumer Price Index (CPI) are not directly comparable.

    “The CoHD includes fewer items and is measured in Naira per day, while the food CPI is a weighted index,” NBS said.

    (NAN)

  • NBS: Petrol, diesel prices soar by 32.51%, 64.58% in one year

    NBS: Petrol, diesel prices soar by 32.51%, 64.58% in one year

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its latest report has disclosed a sharp increase in the average retail price of petrol in Nigeria, with the cost of a litre rising from N626.70 in August 2023 to N830.46 in August 2024.

    The significant surge represents a 32.51 percent year-on-year increase, signaling growing fuel costs.

    The report, released on Monday, further highlighted that the average retail price of petrol also experienced a 7.78 percent jump from N770.54 in July 2024, reflecting the continued upward trend in the cost of the commodity.

    Comparing the average price value with the previous month of July, the average retail price increased by 7.78 percent from N770.54.”

    “Comparing the average price value with the previous month of July, the average retail price increased by 7.78 percent from N770.54,” the NBS noted.

    The NBS analysis of petrol prices across various states showed significant differences.

    According to the report, Benue State recorded the highest average retail price per litre at N941.24, followed closely by Bauchi and Gombe States, where the prices were N935.71 and N925.00, respectively.

    In contrast, the report revealed that Delta, Cross River, and Edo States paid the lowest average prices in August 2024, with Delta at N667.50, Cross River at N672.00, and Edo at N676.25.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s total trade for Q2 2024 stood at N31.892bn – NBS

    The disparity in prices was also evident across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

    “The North-East Zone recorded the highest average retail price in August 2024 at N908.21, while the South-West recorded the lowest price at N677.11 per litre,” the report added.

    The Bureau, in its Diesel Price Watch for August 2024, also provided insight into the rising cost of diesel, indicating a year-on-year price increase of 64.58%.

    It noted that the average retail price of a litre of diesel jumped to N1,406.05, compared to N854.32 in August 2023.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the price increased by 1.93% from the N1,379.48 per litre recorded in July 2024,” the NBS stated, highlighting the persistent inflationary pressures on fuel products.

    Kaduna State recorded the highest diesel price in August at N1,979.23 per litre, with Bauchi following at N1,927.34, and Taraba at N1,638.14.

    Conversely, the lowest prices were recorded in Lagos at N1,237.14, Ogun at N1,255.00, and Osun at N1,268.18.

    Analysis by zones mirrored the trend seen in petrol prices, with the North-East Zone reporting the highest diesel price at N1,621.23 per litre, while the South-West recorded the lowest at N1,283.47.

  • BREAKING: Inflation drops to 32.15% in August, says NBS

    BREAKING: Inflation drops to 32.15% in August, says NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday, September 16, said the inflation rate reduced from 33.40 % in July 2024 to 32.15% in August 2024.

    In its document titled: “CPI August 2024,” NBS said the inflation rate declined by 1.25% point.

    The document said: “In August 2024, the headline inflation rate further eased to 32.15% relative to the July 2024 headline inflation rate of 33.40%.

    “Looking at the movement, the August 2024 headline inflation rate showed a decrease of 1.25% points when compared to the July 2024 headline inflation rate.”

    NBS said, however, on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 6.35% points higher compared to the rate recorded in August 2023 (25.80%).

    The document said this shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in August 2024 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., August 2023).

    Read Also: Nigeria’s total trade for Q2 2024 stood at N31.892bn – NBS

    It further said on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in August 2024 was 2.22%, which was 0.06% lower than the rate recorded in August 2024 (2.28%).

    The report said this means that in August 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level is lower than the rate of increase in the average price level in July 2024.

    NBS said the percentage change in the average CPI for the twelve months ending August 2024 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve-month period was 31.26%, showing 8.88% increase compared to 22.38% recorded in August 2023.

    On urban inflation, NBS said on a year-on-year basis, August 2024 Urban inflation rate was 34.58%, this was 6.89% points higher compared to the 27.69% recorded in August 2023.

    It also said on a month-on-month basis, the urban inflation rate was 2.39% in August 2024, this was 0.07% points lower compared to July 2024 (2.46%). The document said the corresponding twelve-month average for the urban inflation rate was 33.44% in August 2024.

    NBS said this was 9.98% points higher compared to the 23.46% reported in August 2023.

    The Rural inflation rate in August 2024 was 29.95% on a year-on-year basis; this was 5.85% higher compared to the 24.10% recorded in August 2023.

    On a month-on-month basis, said NBS, the “rural inflation rate in August 2024 was 2.06%, down by 0.04% points compared to July 2024 (2.10%).

    “The corresponding twelve-month average for the rural inflation rate in August 2024 was 29.32%.

    “This was 7.93% higher compared to the 21.39% recorded in August 2023.”

  • Nigeria’s total trade for Q2 2024 stood at N31.892bn – NBS

    Nigeria’s total trade for Q2 2024 stood at N31.892bn – NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigeria’s total merchandise trade stood at N31,892.46 billion in the second quarter of 2024.

    This is according to the NBS Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics Report for Q2 2024 released in Abuja on Thursday.

    The NBS said the figure represented a decrease of 3.76 per cent over the value recorded in Q1 2024 and an increase of 150.39 per cent compared to the value recorded in Q2 2023.

    The report said total exports stood at N19,418.93 billion accounting for 60.89 of total trade while total imports stood at N12,473.53 billion.

    The report said total exports increased by 1.31 per cent compared to the amount recorded in the first quarter of 2024 at N19,167.36 billion.

    “Also, total exports in Q2 2024 increased by 201.76 per cent when compared to Q2 of 2023 which was recorded at N6,435.13 billion.”

    Read Also: NBS: domestic airfare up 25% in July

    The report, however, said total imports decreased by 10.71 per cent compared to the value recorded in the first quarter of 2024 at N13.970.05 billion.

    “Total imports increased by 97.93 per cent when compared to the value recorded in Q2 2023 at N6,301.95 billion.”

    It said in Q2 2024, Nigeria’s export trade continued to be dominated by crude oil exports valued at N14,559.56 billion which represented 74.98 per cent of total exports.

    The NBS said the value of non-crude oil exports stood at N4,859.37 billion which represented 25.02 per cent of total exports in Q2 2024

    “ Non-oil products contributed N1,944.25 billion or 10.01 per cent of total exports.”

    The report said the top trading export partners in Q2 2024 were Spain, the U.S., France, India, and The Netherlands.

    It, however, said on the import side, China remained Nigeria’s highest trading partner followed by Belgium, India, the United States of America, and The Netherlands.

    (NAN)

  • NBS: Bribing reporting rises to 8.6% in 2023

    NBS: Bribing reporting rises to 8.6% in 2023

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday, July 11, said reporting of bribing cases rose from 3.6% in 2019 to 8.6% in 2023.

    The Statistician-General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, made this known in Abuja during the Third Corruption Survey in Nigeria.

    He said: “Despite the challenge, however, there is a notable increase in the rate of bribery reporting, rising from 3.6% in 2019 to 8.6% in 2023, reflecting the growing awareness and willingness among Nigerians to confront corruption, and the positive impact of the efforts of anti-corruption agencies in raising awareness and getting Nigerians to report any incidence.”

    Adeniran said the relevance of this Corruption Survey is underscored by several insights provided in the report such as the prevalence and patterns of bribery in the country which remains significant, with 34% of citizens either paying or being asked to pay a bribe and refusing, when they encountered public officials.

    The report said of the total number of bribery cases reported, 65% of the cases were reported to the Police, while 28% were reported to Anti-corruption agencies.

    The results said Adeniran, also revealed a significant increase in the level of actions taken as a consequence of reporting.

    He further noted that out of the total cases reported by citizens, in 45% of the cases, a formal procedure was initiated against the officer, this is an increase from 16% in 2019, showing a huge commitment to dealing with cases of infraction.

    He said the launch of this critical statistical output which is also known as the National Survey on Quality and Integrity of Public Services in Nigeria coincides with the celebration of the African Union Anti-Corruption Day 2024, under the theme “Effective Whistleblowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight against Corruption.”

    He said this is the third round of the Nigeria Corruption Survey, with the first and second rounds conducted in 2016 and 2019 respectively.

    Read Also: Cost of healthy diet stood at N1,041 in May – NBS

    The Statistician-General of the Federation added that this round of the Survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with support from the MacArthur Foundation and the Kingdom of Denmark, marks a significant milestone in our collective ongoing efforts to combat corruption, which is in line with the government’s 8-Point Agenda and commitment to transparency and good governance.

    Through these surveys, said Adeniran, Nigeria continues to lead in establishing international best practices in the periodic and scientific assessment of anti-corruption efforts.

    He noted that the survey provides a critical tool for evidence-based policymaking, enabling a comprehensive analysis of corruption trends and the effectiveness of anti-corruption strategies.

  • Cost of healthy diet stood at N1,041 in May – NBS

    Cost of healthy diet stood at N1,041 in May – NBS

    The National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) per adult a day stood at N1,041 in May 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said.

    The NBS revealed this in its CoHD report for May 2024 released on Friday in Abuja.

    The bureau said that the CoHD in May increased by one per cent compared to the N1,035 recorded in April.

    The NBS said the CoHD was the least expensive combination of locally available items that met globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines.

    It said it was used as a measure of physical and economic access to healthy diets.

    “This is a lower bound (or floor) of the cost per adult per day excluding the cost of transportation and meal preparation.”

    The bureau said that to compute the CoHD indicator, the following data on Retail Food Prices, Food Composition Data, and Healthy Diet Standard were required.

    The NBS also said that in May, the average CoHD was highest in the South-West at N1,189 per adult per day, followed by the South-East at N1,190 per day.

    It said the lowest average CoHD was recorded in the North-West at N919 per adult per day.

    The NBS further said that at the state level Ebonyi, Abia and Anambra recorded the highest CoHD at N1,225, N1,215, and N1,205, respectively.

    The bureau said Kano recorded the lowest CoHD at N898, followed by Jigawa at N899, and Yobe and Katsina at N906.

    The NBS said CoHD had steadily increased since the first CoHD report by the bureau in October 2023.

    “The CoHD in May 2024 is 32 per cent higher than what was recorded in December 2023 at N786 and one per cent higher than CoHD in April 2024, which was N1,035.

    “The food groups that have driven the increases in CoHD the most are starchy staples, legumes, nuts and seeds, and animal source foods.

    “On the other hand, vegetables and fruits recorded the lowest increase in price on a month-on-month basis.”

    Read Also: Electricity consumers rise to 12.33m in Q1 2024, says NBS

    The report added that animal-source foods were the most expensive food group recommendation to meet in May, accounting for 36 per cent of the total CoHD to provide 13 per cent of the total calories.

    It noted that fruits and vegetables were the most expensive food groups in terms of price per calorie.

    “They accounted for 11 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively, of the total CoHD while providing only seven per cent and five per cent of total calories in the Healthy Diet Basket.

    “Legumes, nuts and seeds were the least-expensive food group on average, at seven per cent of the total cost.’’

    The report also says that in recent months, the CoHD had risen faster than general inflation and food inflation.

    “However, the CoHD and the food Consumer Price Index (CPI) are not directly comparable.

    “The CoHD includes fewer items and is measured in Naira per day, while the food CPI is a weighted index.”

    The NBS said the policy implications of these results would foster collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders, such as policymakers, researchers and civil society actors that focused on food security.

    “These stakeholders will devise strategies that tackle access, availability, and affordability of healthy diet effectively.

    “Also future research incorporating income can also be used to determine the proportion and number of the population that are unable to afford a healthy diet,” the report said.

    (NAN)