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Food supply

Clarification on Prayer and Fasting Sessions by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has issued a clarification on prayer and fasting sessions that were earlier announced, stating that they are not an official policy to address food security issues. The sessions, meant to seek divine guidance and protection, were scheduled to take place on Mondays from June 16th to 30th, 2025. However, the Ministry has emphasized that the sessions were intended to address staff apprehensiveness following the recent deaths of management staff, and not to replace or downplay the efforts of the Ministry in achieving food security.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has clarified that prayer and fasting sessions are not an official policy to address food security issues in the country.
  • The sessions were scheduled to take place on Mondays from June 16th to 30th, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • The sessions were intended to address staff apprehensiveness following the recent deaths of management staff, not to replace or downplay the efforts of the Ministry in achieving food security.
  • The Ministry has highlighted various initiatives to address food security, including the distribution of tractors to farmers, the commercialization of agriculture, and the establishment of the Strategic Grain Reserve and Market Stabilization.
  • The Ministry has also launched the National Electronic Extension platform (NEEP) and revitalized the cooperative sector through training and workshops.
  • The Ministry is partnering with the World Bank to rehabilitate rural roads and has procured and distributed free agricultural essential inputs to farmers.

Statistics:

  • Over 1,000 tractors have been delivered to support farmers.
  • 42,000 metric tonnes of grains and 58,200 metric tonnes of milled rice grains were distributed.
  • 2,150,000 bags of fertilizers were donated to the Ministry to reduce food inflation.
  • The Recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) is worth N1.5 trillion.
  • The National Electronic Extension platform (NEEP) is a digital initiative designed to improve agricultural extension services.
  • $600 million has been earmarked to rehabilitate 200,000 kilometres of rural roads under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
  • The National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) has registered farmers across the country to receive essential farm inputs.

Sources:

  • The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security's internal circular.
  • The statement issued by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Assistant Information, Information Department.

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