The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has directed its staff to participate in prayer and fasting sessions aimed at seeking "divine intervention" to address Nigeria's growing food insecurity challenges.
According to an internal circular dated June 11, 2025, signed by the Director of Human Resource Management, Mrs. Adedayo Modupe O., the ministry has organized a series of "solemn prayer sessions" scheduled for June 16, 23, and 30, 2025.
The circular, which was shared on the ministry's official X (formerly Twitter) platform on Saturday, invites all directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, value chain desk officers, and other staff members to participate.
"This is to invite all staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to a solemn prayer session for God's guidance and success in supporting the government's efforts to achieve food security," the circular stated.
The prayer sessions will take place at Conference Hall "B" of the FMAFS headquarters in Area 11, Abuja, from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM. Staff members have been explicitly requested to "come fasting" on those days.
Ministry Source Explains Initiative
A source within the ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained the reasoning behind the unusual directive.
"We are facing significant hurdles in achieving our food security targets. While we are implementing various policies and programmes, we believe that divine guidance is equally crucial for us to overcome these challenges and ensure every Nigerian has access to sufficient and nutritious food," the source said.
The ministry's approach comes at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with food inflation and accessibility issues across many parts of the country, raising questions about the effectiveness of current agricultural policies and implementation strategies.
While the ministry has not publicly detailed specific policy changes or new initiatives to accompany these prayer sessions, the directive highlights the growing concern within government circles about the nation's food security situation.
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