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By Godswill Michael
Workers earning Nigeria’s N70,000 national minimum wage can afford only about 12 days of healthy feeding if they live in Ekiti, Imo or Bayelsa, where the cost of nutritious meals is highest, an analysis of the latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) report has shown.
The analysis, based on the NBS average cost of a healthy diet and assuming an adult consumes three healthy meals daily, found that the monthly minimum wage falls far short of providing nutritious meals throughout a 30-day month.
The finding comes as the NBS reported that the average cost of maintaining a healthy diet increased to N1,589 per adult per day in April 2026, representing a 3.12 per cent rise from N1,541 recorded in March.
On a year-on-year basis, the figure was 4.74 per cent higher than the N1,518 recorded in April 2025, reflecting sustained increases in food prices across most food groups.
According to the bureau, the month-on-month increase was driven by higher prices in nearly all food categories, with starchy staples being the only major food group to record a decline.
The report also revealed significant differences in the cost of healthy diets across states.
Ekiti recorded the highest average daily healthy diet cost at N2,036, followed by Imo (N2,018) and Bayelsa (N1,909).
At the other end of the scale, Adamawa recorded the country’s lowest average daily healthy diet cost at N1,143, followed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at N1,278 and Akwa Ibom at N1,314.
At the regional level, the South-East recorded the highest average daily cost of a healthy diet at N1,830, followed by the South-West at N1,753, while the North-East recorded the lowest regional average at N1,415.
Minimum wage versus healthy feeding
Applying the NBS figures to the national minimum wage highlights the widening gap between workers’ earnings and the cost of nutritious food. Assuming an adult consumes three healthy meals daily, the analysis used the formula N70,000 ÷ (healthy diet cost × 3) to estimate how long the national minimum wage would sustain healthy feeding in states with the highest and lowest food costs.
The analysis found that in Ekiti, where the average healthy diet costs N2,036 per day, workers would need about N6,108 daily to consume three healthy meals. At that rate, the N70,000 minimum wage would last only 11.5 (approximately 12) days.
In Imo, where the daily healthy diet costs N2,018, three healthy meals would cost N6,054, meaning the minimum wage would be exhausted after 11.6 (approximately 12) days. Similarly, in Bayelsa, where the daily healthy diet costs N1,909, workers would spend N5,727 daily on three healthy meals, allowing the minimum wage to cover only 12 days of healthy feeding.
The situation is relatively less severe in states with lower healthy diet costs. In Akwa Ibom, where the daily healthy diet costs N1,314, three healthy meals would amount to N3,942, enabling the minimum wage to last about 17 days. In the FCT, where the daily cost stands at N1,278, workers would require N3,834 daily for healthy feeding, stretching the minimum wage to 18 days.
Adamawa, which recorded the country’s lowest healthy diet cost at N1,143 per day, offers the highest purchasing power among the states analysed. However, three healthy meals would still cost N3,429 daily, meaning the minimum wage would last only 20days.
The analysis shows that none of the states examined provides sufficient purchasing power for a minimum wage earner to afford three healthy meals throughout a 30-day month. Even in Adamawa, where nutritious food is cheapest, the minimum wage would run out after about 20 days if spent solely on healthy feeding.
The calculation also assumes that the worker spends the entire monthly salary exclusively on food, leaving nothing for rent, transportation, electricity, healthcare, education, communication and other essential household expenses. The findings underscore the widening gap between wages and the rising cost of living, particularly in states where healthy diets are most expensive.
Animal-source foods remain costliest
The NBS said animal-source foods remained the most expensive component of a healthy diet, accounting for 40 per cent of the total cost while providing only 13 per cent of total calorie requirements.
According to the report, fruits accounted for 16 per cent of the total cost and vegetables 14 per cent, despite contributing just 7 per cent and 5 per cent respectively to total calorie requirements.
The bureau added that although prices of starchy staples as well as oils and fats declined over the past year, increases across all other food groups continued to drive up the overall cost of maintaining a healthy diet.
Providing further insight into food affordability, the NBS identified Beans White as the least expensive item in the Legumes, Nuts and Seeds food group in 65 per cent of state sectors, while Palm Oil was the cheapest item in the Oils and Fats category in 62 per cent of state sectors.
It also found that Garri White and White Maize grains were the most affordable starchy staples, each accounting for 32 per cent of the least-cost selections across states.
The bureau explained that the Cost of a Healthy Diet measures the minimum amount required to meet recommended daily nutritional needs using locally available foods.
According to the report, the indicator tracks the least-cost combination of foods that satisfies energy and nutrient requirements for a healthy diet and serves as a key benchmark for assessing food affordability and monitoring the impact of food price movements on household welfare.
The NBS noted that rising healthy diet costs indicate increasing pressure on household food budgets and highlight the growing challenge of accessing nutritious meals, particularly for low-income households.
Hunger crisis deepens
The affordability challenge comes amid growing concerns over food insecurity.
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), nearly 35 million Nigerians are facing food insecurity in 2026 due to conflict, climate shocks, displacement and disruptions to local food systems.
The agency identified the North-East as the epicentre of the crisis, with approximately 5.8 million people facing severe food insecurity, including about 15,000 people in Borno State expected to experience catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions.
The United Nations had earlier warned that 82 million Nigerians, representing about 64 per cent of the population, could face hunger by 2030 if urgent measures are not taken to address threats to food production and agricultural productivity.
Children remain among the most vulnerable.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) estimates that 6.4 million children under five suffer acute malnutrition across the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions, making Nigeria’s nutrition crisis one of the most severe in the world.
Government palliatives and their impact
Successive government interventions have attempted to cushion the impact of rising food costs.
Analysis of data on GovSpend, an accountability platform that monitors government expenditures shows that the Federal Government spent N13.07bn on food palliatives between June 2023 and December 2025, largely through the distribution of rice, spaghetti and other staples across constituencies nationwide.
Spending rose from N157.34m in 2023 to N8.31bn in 2024 before declining to N4.60bn in 2025.
The interventions coincided with economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange liberalisation, both of which contributed to higher food prices.
Despite the spending, food affordability remains a major concern for households, raising questions about the long-term effectiveness of palliative programmes as a solution to rising living costs.
Labour demands wage review
The widening disconnect between wages and living costs has renewed calls for wage adjustments.
Speaking during the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration in Abuja, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero urged the Federal Government to provide workers with an additional percentage of their basic salaries pending a fresh review of the national minimum wage.
He said Nigerian workers were facing a “renewed crisis of survival” and required urgent intervention to cushion the effects of inflation.
Nutrition expert warns of long-term consequences
A nutritionist and Lead Consultant at Hadassah Nutritional Health Consult, Esther Olorunfunmi Sayo, warned that the inability of households to afford healthy diets could worsen malnutrition, particularly among children.
”The rising cost of healthy food is forcing many households to make difficult choices. When families can no longer afford balanced meals, they often resort to cheaper foods that may fill the stomach but do not provide adequate nutrients needed for healthy growth and development,” she said.
She advised Nigerians to take advantage of seasonal foods because they are usually more affordable and nutritious.
”Instead of focusing on expensive options such as imported fruits and certain meats, households can maximise locally available foods such as maize, vegetables and eggs, which remain good sources of essential nutrients. Eggs are still one of the most affordable sources of quality protein available to many households. People should also consider seafood and other locally available protein sources that can provide nutritional value at a lower cost than meat,” she added.
Sayo also urged government to strengthen security in farming communities, support farmers and improve workers’ welfare.
”Government must do more to support farmers, improve workers’ welfare and address insecurity in farming communities. Many of Nigeria’s food-producing areas are affected by insecurity, and this contributes significantly to rising food prices and reduced access to nutritious foods.”
She warned that prolonged poor nutrition could result in stunted growth, weakened immunity, poor cognitive development and other lifelong health complications, especially among children.
What happens during the remaining days?
The figures reveal a difficult reality.
If a worker earning the national minimum wage spends the entire monthly income on healthy feeding alone, the salary would still run out long before the month ends. Yet food is only one of several necessities competing for limited income.
Rent must be paid. Transport costs must be covered. Electricity bills arrive every month. School fees, healthcare and communication expenses remain unavoidable.
For millions of Nigerians, the question is no longer whether healthy food is expensive.
The question is what happens during the remaining days of the month when the salary has been exhausted, but the need to eat remains.