The Federal Government has backed down on its widely criticized plan to combat Nigeria’s worsening hunger crisis with a series of national prayer and fasting sessions. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has indefinitely suspended the initiative, PurpleWorld Media has learned.
The controversial programme—titled “Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development”—was revealed in a leaked internal memo dated June 11, 2025. The document directed all ministry staff, including senior officials, to gather for prayer and fasting on June 16, 23, and 30 at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Signed by the Director of Human Resource Management, Mrs. Adedayo Modupe O., the circular had urged employees to “seek God’s guidance” in support of government efforts toward food security.
However, in a swift reversal, a subsequent memo from the same official confirmed that the prayer sessions had been suspended until further notice. No explanation was provided for the abrupt decision.
The suspension follows intense public criticism and online outrage. Many Nigerians described the plan as out-of-touch and symbolic at best—arguing that the government should focus on tangible policy solutions rather than spiritual exercises in the face of an escalating food emergency.
Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, food inflation has soared to over 40% year-on-year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The prices of basic food items such as rice, maize, garri, and yam have more than doubled, pushing millions deeper into poverty and food insecurity.
Critics say the administration’s response has been grossly inadequate, often relying on rhetoric while everyday Nigerians struggle to afford meals. The now-suspended spiritual initiative further fueled anger, seen by many as a deflection from the need for concrete action.
As the economic and humanitarian toll of the crisis grows, all eyes remain on the federal government for real strategies to tackle food inflation, improve agricultural productivity, and provide relief to vulnerable communities.
