The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has confirmed that a recently announced 3-day prayer session was initiated in response to concerns over a spate of untimely deaths among its staff, not as a directive related to food security policy.
The clarification was made in a statement issued Saturday by the ministry’s Assistant Information Officer, Ezeaja Ikemefuna.
The government explained that the prayer sessions were an internal response to growing unease among staff following the sudden demise of several senior officials.
“The prayer was to address the apprehensiveness of staff over the recent untimely and successive death of management staff of the ministry,” the statement read.
“This is not an official policy by the ministry to address agriculture and food security issues in the country.
Rather, it is in response to the yearnings of staff who are apprehensive following the death of some of their colleagues in recent times.”
The clarification follows widespread reactions to an internal circular that had gone viral on social media. Dated June 11, 2025, and signed by Mrs. Adedayo Modupe O., Director of Human Resource Management, the circular instructed all directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, value chain desk officers, and other staff to attend scheduled prayer sessions on June 16, 23, and 30 at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.