The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has announced a ministry-wide prayer and fasting session to invoke divine intervention for national protection and food security.
In an internal circular dated June 11, 2025, and signed by Director of Human Resource Management of the Ministry, Mrs. Adedayo Modupe O., directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, value chain desk officers and staff of the ministry have been directed to participate in the prayer chain.
The initiative was themed “Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development.”
Modupe said the prayer session was aimed at invoking God’s guidance and support for the government’s efforts to ensure stable and sustainable food systems across the country.
The prayer session is scheduled to be held at ministry’s headquarters in Abuja thrice on Monday, June 16, 23, and 30, 2025. Staff members have been directed to attend the sessions in a fasting state in preparation for spiritual appeal in tackling escalating agricultural and food security challenges.
“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. Please kindly come fasting on Mondays 16th, 23rd and 30th June, 2025,” the memo reads.
Below are some of the reactions from Nigerians who are obviously outraged by the memo.
Following the outrage, the Ministry released another statement stating 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.
The statement released by 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 prayer was to address the apprehensiveness of staff over the recent untimely and successive death of management staff of the ministry.
“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
