A recent internal memo from Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture has triggered a wave of disbelief and criticism, after urging its staff to engage in prayer and fasting sessions to help the country achieve food security.
The memo, issued by the ministry’s Human Resources department, called on staff to fast and participate in solemn prayer meetings for three consecutive Mondays. This move, intended to be spiritual support for the country’s ongoing food struggles, has sparked public backlash and ridicule, with many Nigerians questioning whether the government is serious about solving the worsening food crisis.
While Nigeria remains a deeply religious country, critics argue that relying on divine intervention in the face of a national emergency reflects a lack of concrete action from leadership. Some have called it a clear sign that officials are deflecting responsibility.
In an attempt to downplay the controversy, the agriculture ministry released a statement saying the call to prayer was not an official strategy to tackle food insecurity, but rather an effort to promote “staff wellbeing”—similar to regular health checkups and monthly exercise programs.
“Just as the monthly aerobic exercise and the establishment of a gymnasium in the ministry are for physical fitness, and the regular medical check-ups are for health, this spiritual exercise is meant to promote staff wellness,” the statement read.
Still, the timing and nature of the memo have struck a nerve in a country where millions go hungry daily. According to the United Nations, at least 4.4 million Nigerians currently lack access to sufficient food. Since 2023, the nation has faced its worst economic crisis in a generation, worsened by inflation and recent government policy changes.
Prices of essential food items have skyrocketed—yams have quadrupled in price within a year, and rice and tomatoes have become unaffordable luxuries for many. These price surges led to widespread protests last year, as families struggled to keep up with the rising cost of living.
Online, the memo has become a viral topic of debate and satire. One user quipped, “Replace the entire agriculture ministry with pastors and imams,” while another wrote, “Nigeria is a joke.” The general sentiment is one of frustration and fatigue, as citizens expect real solutions—not just spiritual suggestions—from those in power.
Government officials, however, defend their response, pointing to the distribution of over 1,000 tractors and more than two million bags of fertilizer to farmers in recent months. But for many, these efforts seem insufficient given the magnitude of the crisis.
In a country where faith plays a strong cultural role, calls for prayer are not unusual. But when paired with economic hardship and government inaction, they can be seen as tone-deaf. For a nation battling hunger, people want policies, not prayers.
