The Federal Government has suspended its earlier plan to hold a three-day national prayer and fasting session aimed at seeking divine intervention for Nigeria’s worsening food crisis.
The controversial initiative, proposed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, was abruptly shelved following widespread backlash from the public, who accused the ministry of trivialising a serious national emergency.
In an internal circular dated June 11, the ministry had invited senior officials—including directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, and value chain officers—to participate in spiritual gatherings scheduled for June 16, 23, and 30 at its Abuja headquarters.
The memo, signed by the Director of Human Resource Management, Mrs. Adedayo Modupe O., stated that the sessions would be held under the theme: “Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development.” It directed staff to observe fasting on the scheduled dates and attend the prayer meetings.
But in a sharp U-turn, the ministry in a follow-up notice postponed the exercise until further notice. No reason was officially provided for the reversal.
The announcement sparked outrage across social media platforms, with many Nigerians criticising the move as a misplaced priority at a time when millions are battling soaring food prices, supply chain breakdowns, and chronic hunger.
“This is not the time for optics or rituals. Nigerians need food security plans, not prayer schedules,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), echoing a popular sentiment.
Policy analysts and civil society groups also faulted the ministry for resorting to spiritual measures instead of tackling root causes such as inadequate support for farmers, decaying infrastructure, and insecurity in agrarian communities.
While the Tinubu administration has pledged to address food inflation through various agricultural interventions, critics argue that symbolism must not replace substance in public policy.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture has yet to release a formal statement addressing the backlash or explaining the rationale behind its initial decision.
Nigeria’s food inflation currently stands at over 35%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, with basic staples such as rice, maize, and tomatoes increasingly out of reach for many families.
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