The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has stirred widespread debate following the circulation of an internal memo allegedly calling for a three-day national prayer and fasting session aimed at addressing Nigeria’s deepening food crisis.
According to a circular dated June 11 and reportedly obtained by TheCable, the ministry’s Director of Human Resource Management, Adedayo Modupe, instructed staff to observe the spiritual exercise as a means of invoking divine intervention in the nation’s ongoing efforts to achieve food sufficiency.
The memo reportedly stated that the fasting and prayer period would serve as a time to “seek the face of God concerning the myriad challenges confronting the agricultural sector, especially in the area of food production and distribution.”
Although the circular appears to have been intended for internal staff only, its content has gone viral online, sparking a wave of mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some citizens praised the move as a show of faith and moral leadership, others criticised it as a diversion from addressing the practical and policy-based solutions urgently needed to tackle inflation and food insecurity.
This is not the time for symbolism. We need concrete action, not a spiritual smokescreen,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Others defended the initiative, saying it reflects a holistic approach that includes both human effort and spiritual guidance.
As of press time, the ministry has yet to issue an official statement confirming or denying the circular’s authenticity or whether the directive will be extended to the public or limited to staff members.
Nigeria has been grappling with rising food prices, supply chain disruptions, and widespread insecurity affecting farmers across key agricultural regions — challenges that have sparked calls for urgent and innovative interventions to avert a full-blown food crisis.
