The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has clarified that its recently announced three-day fasting and prayer programme was not instituted as an official policy to tackle food insecurity in the country.
In an internal memo dated June 11, Adedayo Modupe, Director of Human Resource Management at the ministry, stated that the spiritual observance was aimed at seeking divine support for Nigeria’s ongoing food security initiatives.
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According to the circular, all ministry staff members were encouraged to fast and join in daily prayer sessions.
“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 reads.“
The theme of the session is ‘Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development’.
“The prayers will hold at Conference Hall ‘B’ of the FMAFS headquarters in Area 11, Garki, Abuja, from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. on each scheduled date.”
The announcement triggered public criticism, with many Nigerians expressing outrage, especially amid escalating food prices and growing hunger across the nation.
In a statement released on Saturday to provide further clarification, the ministry emphasized that the prayer and fasting were not a formal strategy for addressing agricultural or food-related concerns.
Quoting a report by NTA, the ministry explained that the initiative originated from the Human Resources Department and was intended to enhance the spiritual and emotional well-being of staff members.
The ministry also compared the prayer initiative to existing wellness programmes such as routine health screenings, scheduled aerobic sessions, and gym facilities—all aimed at improving the physical health of personnel.
Additionally, the statement affirmed that the ministry’s leadership, in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is actively pursuing comprehensive policies to ensure nationwide food and nutrition security.
