The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has confirmed that a recently leaked internal circular inviting staff to participate in a prayer and fasting programme was issued by its Human Resource Management Department, and is not part of the ministry’s official policy response to food insecurity or national hunger.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry’s Assistant Director of Information, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, explained that the weekly prayer sessions, scheduled for 16, 23, and 30 June, are voluntary spiritual gatherings initiated by staff concerned about recent events within the ministry.
“The Ministry’s attention is drawn to the internal circular of the Human Resource Management Department being circulated by online media,” Mr Ikemefuna said. “The ministry wishes to inform that the prayer session is an initiative of the Human Resource Department to address the wellbeing of the staff, just as the already existing monthly aerobic exercise and establishment of the gymnasium in the ministry are for physical fitness, as the regular medical check-up of staff are for their health.”
The circular, signed by Director of Human Resource Management, Adedayo Modupe, had urged ministry staff to attend the sessions under the theme *“Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development”*, and to come fasting.
“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 memo stated.
The memo, dated 11 June, sparked significant public criticism after it surfaced on social media earlier in the week. Several Nigerians questioned the rationale behind such a spiritual directive within a ministry tasked with addressing a pressing national food crisis.
Responding to the controversy, Mr Ikemefuna explained that the prayer sessions were prompted by internal concerns among staff following the recent untimely deaths of several senior officials.
“The staff also deem it not out of place to pray for the country, hence the theme of the prayer sessions: *‘Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development’*,” he said.
He emphasised that the prayer gathering is not a substitute for policy action nor an official ministry strategy for tackling hunger or food insecurity.
“The initiative is not an official policy by the ministry to address agriculture and food security issues in the country,” the statement said, adding that it was “in response to the yearnings of staff who are apprehensive following the death of some of their colleagues in recent times.”
According to Mr Ikemefuna, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security continues to implement key programmes in line with the Tinubu administration’s food and nutrition security agenda.
“The Honourable Minister has been working assiduously to ensure food and nutrition security for the country in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration,” he said.
The ministry outlined several initiatives it said were already underway to address the food crisis. These include the receipt of over 1,000 tractors to support mechanised farming, distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains and 58,200 metric tonnes of rice from the Strategic Grain Reserve, and the delivery of 2.15 million bags of fertiliser donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
It also cited the recent recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture to the tune of ₦1.5 trillion, and the launch of the National Electronic Extension Platform (NEEP) to improve the delivery of agricultural advisory services to farmers.
“The ministry wishes to emphasise that the prayer session is an internal initiative of staff to address the concern over sudden deaths in the ministry and not intended to replace or downplay the remarkable effort and achievement of the ministry and other stakeholders in achieving food security in the nation,” the statement said.
