Pricey Proteins and other Problems

+Daily Protein Intake: 8.4 grams short

Pricey Proteins and other Problems

In Nigeria, the top 15 most costly food items in 2024 are all protein-based. The National Bureau of Statistics data shows that the price hike of food staples is particularly more evident in proteinous foods. 

This further indicates that people who already have little purchasing capacity will shift their priority from meeting their nutritional needs to eating just for survival and not to meet their health needs.

Protein products such as beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and dairy are crucial for a balanced diet. Their high prices may force many Nigerians to reduce their consumption of these essential foods and cause implications for nutrition and public health.

Daily Protein Intake: 8.4 grams short

The food items with the highest prices in 2024 so far are protein-rich products such as frozen chicken, various forms of catfish, beef, and other seafood. 

Protein sources are becoming less available to a sizable segment of the population due to these high prices, with approximately 40% of Nigerians living below the poverty line. 

According to the Global Nutrition Report, consumers with lower income levels tend to restrict their use of vital commodities when their prices rise, which results in an inadequate intake of critical nutrients.​ 

The high cost of these protein sources indicates low price elasticity, where due to high prices, the demand remains relatively inelastic despite the essential nature of protein in diets as proven by the Nigerian Protein Deficiency Report (2020), which asserted that 45 per cent of the population, translating to 92.7 million Nigerians, do not consume protein daily as against recommended consumption.

The report further stated that the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), recommended a minimum per capita daily protein intake of 53.8g, with a global daily intake of 64g. However, in Nigeria, the daily protein intake is 45.4g. 

Nigerian Diets in the World: 6 Places from Bottom Rank 

Nigeria ranks low on the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2022 with an overall score of 42, placing it 107th out of 113 countries globally and 25th out of 28 in Sub-Saharan Africa. The GFSI evaluates food security based on four pillars: affordability, availability, quality and safety, and sustainability and adaptation.

One key measure within the quality and safety pillar is protein quality. Nigeria’s score for protein quality is just 32 out of 100, indicating that the nutritional quality of protein in the diets of Nigerians is very poor. 

This low score highlights significant challenges in ensuring that the population receives adequate and high-quality protein essential for health and development.

Less Proteins, More Problems

Proteins are essential nutrients that keep your body running smoothly by helping it grow, repair itself, and stay healthy. They play a vital role in the growth and maintenance of muscles, skin, and other body parts.

Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of protein deficiency. 

For pregnant women, sufficient protein intake supports the development of the baby and maintains the mother’s health. For children, proteins are essential for physical growth and brain development.

In Nigeria, the high cost of protein-rich foods heightens malnutrition among these sensitive groups, leading to long-term health implications. Protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products are often expensive, making them less accessible to many families, especially those with lower incomes.

Insufficient protein intake leads to Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM), characterised by various adverse effects. Children who do not receive enough protein suffer from stunted growth.