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| Pray for food, Nigeria government tells its staff amid mockery | Pray for food, Nigeria government tells its staff amid mockery |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Religion is important to many in Nigeria but some say the government has gone too far | Religion is important to many in Nigeria but some say the government has gone too far |
| A call for all staff in Nigeria's ministry of agriculture to pray to help the country achieve food security has caused controversy. | A call for all staff in Nigeria's ministry of agriculture to pray to help the country achieve food security has caused controversy. |
| An internal memo from the head of the ministry's HR department urges staff to attend a solemn prayer session and fast for the next three Mondays. | An internal memo from the head of the ministry's HR department urges staff to attend a solemn prayer session and fast for the next three Mondays. |
| Some Nigerians have responded by questioning the government's commitment to the task of bringing down the high cost of food. | Some Nigerians have responded by questioning the government's commitment to the task of bringing down the high cost of food. |
| A press release from the agriculture ministry on Saturday downplayed the issue, saying the call for prayers was not an official policy to tackle food insecurity but was intended to boost staff wellbeing. | A press release from the agriculture ministry on Saturday downplayed the issue, saying the call for prayers was not an official policy to tackle food insecurity but was intended to boost staff wellbeing. |
| "Just as the already existing monthly aerobic exercise and establishment of the gymnasium in the ministry are for physical fitness", it continued, and "as the regular medical check-ups of staff are for their health". | "Just as the already existing monthly aerobic exercise and establishment of the gymnasium in the ministry are for physical fitness", it continued, and "as the regular medical check-ups of staff are for their health". |
| At least 4.4 million people in Nigeria do not have enough food, according to UN estimates, with the country experiencing its worst economic crisis in a generation following policy changes brought in by the new government since 2023. | At least 4.4 million people in Nigeria do not have enough food, according to UN estimates, with the country experiencing its worst economic crisis in a generation following policy changes brought in by the new government since 2023. |
| The ever-increasing price of basic food staples was one of the triggers for nationwide cost-of-living protests last year. Yams, for example, quadrupled in price from one year to the next. | |
| Critics see the appeal for divine intervention as proof that the government is shirking its responsibility to citizens and taking a fatalistic attitude. | Critics see the appeal for divine intervention as proof that the government is shirking its responsibility to citizens and taking a fatalistic attitude. |
| But officials say they have taken numerous steps to tackle the crisis, including giving farmers more than 1,000 tractors and over two million bags of fertiliser. | But officials say they have taken numerous steps to tackle the crisis, including giving farmers more than 1,000 tractors and over two million bags of fertiliser. |
| Exasperated reaction to the call to prayer online has ranged from people saying the ministry's leadership should be replaced with pastors and imams, to simply saying "Nigeria is a joke". | Exasperated reaction to the call to prayer online has ranged from people saying the ministry's leadership should be replaced with pastors and imams, to simply saying "Nigeria is a joke". |
| More BBC stories on Nigeria: | More BBC stories on Nigeria: |
| Heartbreak as cash-strapped Nigerians abandon their pets | Heartbreak as cash-strapped Nigerians abandon their pets |
| People turn to 'throw-away' rice for food | People turn to 'throw-away' rice for food |
| Should I stay or should I go? The dilemma for young Nigerians | Should I stay or should I go? The dilemma for young Nigerians |
| Why this professor has a second job as a welder | Why this professor has a second job as a welder |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |
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