Prominent Nigerian human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has publicly criticized the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for organizing a “solemn assembly” prayer session, calling the move “disgraceful” amid a deepening national food crisis.
You May Also Like
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Effiong expressed outrage at what he described as a symbolic gesture that falls short of addressing Nigeria’s urgent agricultural challenges.
“Disgraceful. Federal Ministry of Agriculture is organizing a solemn assembly to pray for divine intervention to guarantee food security in Nigeria,” Effiong posted. “How did we get to this embarrassing point?”
The Ministry’s prayer session, held earlier this week in Abuja, was promoted as a spiritual exercise seeking divine guidance over Nigeria’s food insecurity concerns. The event triggered strong reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning the effectiveness of religious ceremonies in place of concrete policy responses.
While the Ministry has not issued a formal response to Effiong’s comments, officials involved in the event described the gathering as a tradition meant to seek divine blessings in the face of national challenges — a practice not uncommon in Nigeria’s public sector.
Effiong, known for his outspoken views on governance and civic rights, has repeatedly used his platform to hold government institutions accountable. His latest statement adds to growing public pressure on the federal government to address rising food prices, insecurity in farming regions, and what many see as policy inaction.
Nigeria is currently facing its highest levels of food inflation in years, with staple items like rice, maize, and yam becoming increasingly unaffordable for millions of households. Food insecurity has also worsened due to armed conflict in agricultural zones, climate-related disruptions, and gaps in government support for farmers.
Effiong’s criticism underscores a broader frustration with what some view as a preference for ritual over reform in the country’s leadership culture. His post, which has since gone viral, ends with a question that has resonated across social media:
“How did we get to this embarrassing point?”
As debates continue over how best to address Nigeria’s agricultural challenges, voices like Effiong’s are amplifying calls for urgent, measurable action over symbolic gestures.
