A call for all staff in Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture to pray to help the country achieve food security has caused a massive controversy.

An internal memo from the head of the ministry’s HR department urges staff to attend a solemn prayer session and fast for the next three Mondays.

A few Nigerians have responded by questioning the government’s commitment to the task of bringing down the high cost of food.

“Just as the already existing monthly aerobic exercise and establishment of the gymnasium in the ministry are for physical fitness”, it continued, and “as the regular medical check-ups of staff are for their health”.

‘Disgraceful. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture is organizing a solemn assembly to pray for divine intervention to guarantee food security in Nigeria. How did we get to this embarrassing point?’ – “InibeheEffiong

‘Imagine Nigeria Agric ministry holding fasting and prayer as issues of national importance. We are a joke’ – @umarabdul2712

‘The Federal Ministry of Agriculture is organizing a solemn assembly to pray for divine intervention to guarantee food security in Nigeria.’ – @SemiNigerian

‘Ministry of Agriculture and food security organize prayers for divine intervention to ensure food security in the country’. Negros just like using religion to hide incompetence.
#BrokenBuhNotDamaged – @OfficialSteady_

‘You know all hope is lost when a ministry created for the regulation of agriculture is now soliciting God’s direct guidance through prayer sessions’. – @chizeluemejulu

At least 4.4 million people in Nigeria do not have enough food, according to UN estimates, with the country experiencing its worst economic crisis in a generation following policy changes brought in by the new government since 2023.