The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has clarified that the ongoing prayer sessions by its staff are meant to address growing concern over recent losses of senior personnel and not a substitute for agricultural policies. This explanation came in response to online reports misrepresenting the intention behind an internal memo from the Human Resource Management Department.
In a statement dated June 14, 2025, and signed by Ezeaja Ikemefuna on behalf of the Director of Information, the ministry explained that the initiative was introduced to support the emotional and psychological well-being of employees. The move follows multiple cases of sudden and untimely deaths involving management staff, which created widespread anxiety among workers.
The statement emphasized that the prayer sessions are part of broader staff wellness efforts, including regular medical checkups, aerobic exercises, and the use of a gym. According to the ministry, staff voluntarily decided to also pray for the nation, which led to the theme of the session—“Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development.”
Officials stressed that this prayer initiative should not be misinterpreted as an official government strategy to manage food security or national agricultural planning. The ministry reaffirmed that both the Minister and Minister of State remain committed to advancing food security under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and have already recorded notable progress over the last two years.
The ministry urged the public to disregard online reports suggesting otherwise, reiterating that the sessions were solely meant to help staff cope with recent losses and were never intended to replace or undermine policy efforts.
