The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has come under fire after issuing an internal circular calling staff to a prayer and fasting session “for God’s guidance” to achieve food security. The memo, dated June 11, 2025, instructs all directors, value chain officers, and staff to attend a 30-minute session themed “Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development” on Monday, June 16, at the Ministry’s Conference Hall B in Abuja, from 12:00 to 12:30 pm. Staff are also directed to come fasting on June 16, 23, and 30, raising serious questions about the Ministry’s grasp of its mandate at a time when the nation is battling hunger, soaring food prices, and widespread agricultural decline.
Rather than provide a clear update on policies, interventions, or measurable actions to improve food production and access, the Ministry is asking its workforce to fast and pray, an approach many concerned and well-meaning Nigerians see as both unserious and alarming. In a country where millions face daily food insecurity, experts and citizens alike are calling this move tone-deaf and symptomatic of a government increasingly replacing accountability with symbolism.
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