The latest survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, shows that Nigerians spent about ₦22.8 trillion on food in 2019.
The survey suggests that this figure is about 57 per cent of the total spending (N40.2 trillion) by Nigerians for the outgone year.
According to the NBS, the largest amount of food expenditure- ₦4 trillion, was spent on food consumed in restaurants, bars, among others.
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Tuber produce such as yam, potatoes etc., and plantain were the next most consumed food items at ₦2.5 trillion, followed by rice, ₦1.9 trillion and vegetables, ₦1.7 trillion.
Meanwhile, beverages cost Nigerians ₦296.6 billion, confectioneries accounted for ₦205.5 billion, while ₦150.2 billion was spent on bottled and can alcoholic drinks.
The NBS data also showed that Nigerians spent about ₦17.4 trillion (about 43 per cent of their spendings) on non-food expenses in 2019.
Transportation (₦2.6 trillion), health (₦2.5 trillion), education (₦2.4 trillion) and telecommunication services (₦2.2 trillion) top the list in this category.
In the period under review rent gulped (₦2.1 trillion), fuel and power (₦2 trillion), clothing and footwear (₦1.8 trillion), household goods (₦1.1 trillion), entertainment (₦428.2 billion), water (₦197.6 billion).
Meanwhile, the South-west, it was learnt, recorded the highest overall household expenditure as well as the highest expenditure on food and in non-food categories, while the North-east (excluding Borno) recorded the lowest.
The NBS wrote in its report:
In most developed countries, it is the opposite, where the consumption pattern is skewed towards non-food items.
Lagos is a clear indication of a state with an emerging economy. Lagos state’s expenditure on non-food items was more than its expenditure on food.
Among the states of the federation, Lagos recorded the highest consumption expenditure at ₦5.1 trillion (13 per cent of Nigeria’s), followed by Oyo with ₦2.3 trillion (5.83%), Delta’s ₦2.1 trillion (5.38%), Rivers’ ₦2 trillion (4.99%) and Kano State- ₦1.97 trillion (4.91%).
In the meantime, Yobe (₦420 billion), Nasarawa (₦383.6 billion), Ebonyi (₦310.2 billion) and Taraba (₦297.4 billion) ranked below the list.
