An Agroeconomist and Food Security Specialist, Ballin James, has criticised the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security following the circulation of an internal memo inviting staff to a series of prayer sessions with the title; “Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development.”
Our correspondent gathered that the sessions, slated to begin this week, have drawn sharp rebuke from concerned citizens and stakeholders who argue that symbolic gestures are no substitute for serious policy action.
In a strongly worded open letter addressed to the Director of Human Resource Management of the Ministry, James expressed deep disappointment over what he described as the prioritisation of spiritual rituals at a time when millions of Nigerians face growing food insecurity.
The letter partly read, “While I fully acknowledge the place of spiritual reflection in our national life and do not discount the power of prayer in seeking divine guidance.
“It is unacceptable that such a critical ministry would prioritise rituals over concrete, strategic, and data-driven interventions urgently needed to address Nigeria’s alarming food crisis.”
The Ministry, according to the internal circular dated June 11, 2025 (Ref No: AGR.12/S.27/1091/I/12), called on staff to gather for what it described as spiritual intervention sessions. But for many observers, the move underscores a deeper problem in Nigeria’s governance culture—ritualistic symbolism taking precedence over evidence-based action.
The food security expert continued saying “Nigeria is at a tipping point. Our agricultural value chain is suffering from chronic underinvestment, poor infrastructure, outdated extension systems, insecurity, and ineffective policy implementation. The solution to our food crisis does not lie in fasting alone but in bold, visionary, and sustained government action.”
The letter outlined seven critical areas where the Ministry must demonstrate tangible leadership including; Policy Reform and Implementation – Including land access, mechanisation, and youth engagement, Extension and Innovation Systems – Strengthening the bridge between research and grassroots farming; Financing and Investment Access – Expanding access to credit, insurance, and targeted subsidies; Infrastructure and Value Chain Development – Improving rural roads, storage, irrigation, and market linkages.
Others are; Data-Driven Decision Making – Embracing geospatial and climate-smart tools for planning; Security in Agrarian Zones – Creating safe corridors for farmers, particularly in conflict-prone regions; Monitoring and Transparency – Establishing a performance dashboard to track budget and impact metrics.
James is especially pointed given Nigeria’s ongoing food inflation, rising youth unemployment, and declining productivity across key agricultural sectors. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, food inflation hit over 40 percent in May 2025, pushing millions further below the poverty line.
“It is unacceptable that in the face of widespread hunger, the Ministry responsible for agricultural transformation is dedicating official work hours to activities that, while spiritually valid, do not substitute for institutional accountability and policy execution,” the letter charged.
She urged the Honourable Minister of Agriculture to abandon “ritualistic symbolism” in favour of real sector reform. “Leadership demands vision, strategy, and results. Nigeria deserves more than hope—we deserve impact.”
