Cost of healthy diets rises by 39.5% in 10yrs — Report

Nigeria’s food security outlook has worsened over the last decade, with new global data showing that millions of households are increasingly unable to afford nutritious diets as hunger deepens across West Africa.

According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2025) , Nigeria saw a 39.5 percent increase in the cost of a healthy diet over the last decade, one of the highest spikes in West Africa. This rise outpaces income growth in many parts of the country, pushing more families toward cheaper, less nutritious options.

The report highlights troubling trends that reflect the fragility of Nigeria’s food system and the rising cost of living pressures affecting families nationwide.

The report shows that 36.2 percent of Nigerians faced severe food insecurity between 2021 and 2023, reflecting the country’s prolonged struggle with inflation, currency depreciation, conflict in farming regions, and declining purchasing power.

Across West Africa, food insecurity is even more pronounced, with 56 percent of the region’s population experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity—a level the report attributes to armed conflict, climatic shocks, and high food prices that have eroded household resilience.

Even though Nigeria accounts for a significant share of West Africa’s population, the report notes that food systems have weakened under the pressure of rising demand, weather-related disruptions, and supply chain bottlenecks.

One of the most alarming findings is the rising cost of a healthy diet, which has made nutritious food increasingly inaccessible to low-income households.

The broader West African region is facing similar pressures, with 69.8 percent of people unable to afford a healthy diet—a reflection of widespread poverty and rapidly escalating food prices.

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Nigeria, the region’s largest economy, sits squarely within this trend, with millions priced out of nutrient-dense foods such as vegetables, dairy, and protein.

The SOFI report also draws attention to Nigeria’s nutrition outcomes, which illustrate a dual burden of hunger and emerging overweight trends.

Between 2012 and 2022, the share of overweight children in Africa’s most populous nation increased from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent, while obesity among adults reached seven percent in 2022.

These numbers highlight a dietary shift driven by the high cost of healthier foods, pushing households toward cheaper, calorie-dense alternatives.

The structural weaknesses shaping Nigeria’s food insecurity are tied to a combination of inflationary pressure, climatic shocks, and disruptions in agricultural production.

Nigeria’s rising population, declining yields in some staple crops, and persistent insecurity in food-producing regions continue to strain domestic supply.

As the SOFI report notes, demand-driven pressures in Africa’s most populous nation are “leading to lower diet quality and worsening food security outcomes”.

Beyond affordability, the stability of Nigeria’s food system remains fragile. The report shows that in many African countries—including Nigeria—the cost of the recommended diet is rising faster than incomes, widening the gap between households and the food they need to remain healthy.

With nutritious diets becoming less accessible, malnutrition risks—particularly among children and women—are expected to rise.

The SOFI 2025 report also links worsening food security in West Africa to reduced agricultural productivity driven by climate shocks and conflict.

These same factors have reduced Nigeria’s ability to produce enough food locally, increasing dependence on costly imports at a time when foreign exchange availability remains tight.

With a significant proportion of the population still struggling to access adequate diets and the cost of healthy food rising sharply, the report highlights the urgent need for policies that stabilise prices, boost local food production, strengthen agricultural value chains, and improve household purchasing power.

Feyishola Jaiyesimi covers agriculture and environment trends at BusinessDay, Nigeria’s leading daily newspaper focused on economy and finance. Her stories draw on investigative journalism, and she has been selected for professional training by the US Embassy, Lagos, and Dataphyte. Feyishola holds a bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Environmental Biology from Ekiti State University.

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