The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has clarified that the recent prayer session organised by its Human Resource Department was intended to address growing concerns among staff over cases of untimely and successive deaths within the ministry.

In a statement signed by the Assistant Director of Information, Mr. Ezeaja Ikemefuna, the ministry explained that the prayer session was similar to other staff welfare initiatives, such as the monthly aerobic exercises, the establishment of a gymnasium for physical fitness, and regular medical check-ups for employees.

The clarification followed reports based on a leaked memo directing management staff to participate in a three-day fasting and prayer exercise purportedly aimed at improving food security in the country.

The ministry stressed that the session was not an official policy to address agriculture or food security challenges, but rather a response to staff requests for spiritual intervention following the loss of colleagues.

“The prayer was to address the apprehensiveness of staff over the recent untimely deaths of management staff of the ministry and to pray for the nation. The theme was ‘Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development,’” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the ministry assured that it remains focused on ensuring food and nutrition security in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The ministry highlighted key interventions, including the delivery of over 1,000 tractors to support farmers, distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains and 58,200 metric tonnes of milled rice under the Strategic Grain Reserve, and receipt of 2.15 million bags of fertilizer donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria to curb food inflation.

Additionally, the government has approved the N1.5 trillion recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture to improve farmers’ access to affordable finance.

Other initiatives include the launch of the National Electronic Extension Platform (NEEP), revitalisation of the cooperative sector, and collaboration with the World Bank on the $600 million Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) to rehabilitate 200,000 km of rural roads.

The ministry also continues to provide subsidised agricultural inputs and is partnering with NIMC to enhance farmer data management for better service delivery. (The Guardian)