The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has suspended its earlier directive calling for prayer and fasting sessions aimed at seeking divine guidance and success in supporting the government’s drive for food security.
A leaked internal circular, dated June 11 and signed by the Ministry’s Director of Human Resource Management, Mrs. Adedayo Modupe O., had invited top-level staff, including directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, and value chain desk officers, to participate in a series of weekly spiritual gatherings at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The prayer initiative, tagged “Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development”, was scheduled to hold on June 16, 23, and 30, respectively.
According to the memo, all staff were expected to fast and attend the sessions.
“This is to invite all staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food to a solemn prayer session for God’s guidance and supporting the Government’s effort to achieve food security,”
the circular had read.
However, in a follow-up communication, the same director announced that the spiritual exercise had been postponed until further notice. No official reason was provided for the reversal.
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The abrupt U-turn came after a flurry of backlash from the netizens, with many questioning the appropriateness of turning to spiritual solutions at a time when millions of Nigerians were grappling with rising food prices and widespread hunger.
Critics argued that the Ministry should prioritise concrete policy interventions, such as revamping agricultural infrastructure, supporting farmers with subsidies, and improving distribution systems.
“This is not the time for optics or rituals. Nigerians need food security plans, not prayer schedules,” said one social media commentator, reflecting a sentiment widely shared across platforms.
Hours later, the ministry clarified that the scheduled prayer sessions announced to hold within the ministry were purely internal initiatives to address apprehension over incessant death of workers, and not to offer prayers against food insecurity in Nigeria.
In a statement released, the Ministry’s Assistant Information Officer, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, said the ministry responded to public outrage following the online circulation of a viral internal circular from its Human Resource Management Department.
The ministry emphasised that the prayer sessions were organised in response to staff concerns over the recent untimely and successive deaths of several management personnel. The statement read:
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“The prayer was to address the apprehensiveness of staff over the recent untimely and successive death of management staff of the ministry.
The staff also deemed it not out of place to pray for the country, hence the theme of the prayer sessions: ‘Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development’.”
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The ministry also clarified that the prayer initiative, like its ongoing monthly aerobic exercise programme and gymnasium services, was part of internal wellness plan and does not reflect any shift in government policy or agricultural mandate.
“This is not an official policy by the ministry to address agriculture and food security issues in the country. Rather, it is in response to the yearnings of staff who are apprehensive following the death of some of their colleagues in recent times,”
the statement added
