Faith Before Food? Frustrated Nigerians Cast Doubt on RCCG’s Prayer Campaign to Solve Deepening Economic Woes

 

As inflation bites deeper and citizens grow increasingly weary of hardship, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is launching a national prayer campaign aimed at addressing Nigeria’s economic crisis. Led by the church’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the initiative is being pitched as a spiritual solution to a situation that has left millions struggling for basic survival. But not everyone is convinced that prayer is what the nation needs right now.

The announcement, made during a press conference in Lagos on June 28, outlined the church’s plans to center its July 2025 thanksgiving service around the theme “Divine Intervention.” Adeboye, speaking through his Special Assistant on Administration, Pastor Dele Balogun, expressed that the session would focus on interceding for economic restoration and national advancement.

The service is scheduled to take place at the RCCG national headquarters in Oyingbo, Lagos. While some have welcomed the move as a symbol of hope and unity, a growing number of citizens view it with frustration and even derision. Many Nigerians feel that the overreliance on religion as a panacea for systemic problems has done little more than distract from the need for real, structural reform.

Across social media platforms and street corners, criticism is mounting. “We’ve been praying for decades, but prices keep rising and jobs keep disappearing,” said 33-year-old Uchenna, a Lagos-based mechanic. “I respect the church, but this is not what we need. We need leadership, not more vigils.”

Rising food prices, skyrocketing fuel costs, and a devalued naira have created a situation that even the most devout Nigerians admit cannot be solved through prayer alone. Unemployment continues to affect a significant portion of the population, especially among the youth, while businesses struggle to stay afloat amid harsh fiscal conditions.

Adeboye, however, maintains that faith plays a crucial role in shaping national outcomes. “Our nation is going through challenges, but we must not give in to despair,” he said, encouraging citizens to adopt a mindset rooted in belief and positivity. He emphasized that faith-filled declarations and unity can inspire not only personal change but also national recovery.

The RCCG also announced the formation of a special prayer network designed to target pressing issues such as climate conditions, agricultural productivity, and environmental sustainability. Pastor Olusegun Macaulay, an Assistant Pastor in Charge of Province 1, explained that divine favor requires alignment with spiritual principles.

“You cannot just plant and expect growth without the right environment. That is why we are praying for weather, for clemency, and for everything that makes abundance possible,” Macaulay said.

Still, critics argue that this approach skirts the practical realities that Nigerians face. Education, policy reform, security, and infrastructural development are just some of the areas that citizens believe require urgent and tangible attention.

“This is the same cycle we’ve seen over and over again. Things get worse, churches call for prayers, politicians make promises, and nothing changes,” said Amaka Oladipo, a university lecturer in Ibadan. “There’s a place for faith, but it must be paired with action.”

Religious leaders across the country have often stepped into the vacuum left by political leadership, providing moral guidance and community support. However, there is growing unease about the tendency to default to spiritual responses while failing to hold those in power accountable.

While the RCCG has invited Nigerians of all backgrounds to join in the July service, many are demanding more than hope. They want policies that create jobs, stable power supply, functional healthcare systems, and a government that can effectively manage the economy.

For some, the prayer campaign is yet another performance in a nation accustomed to substituting ceremony for substance. For others, it is a sincere effort in desperate times. Yet across the country, the dominant emotion remains a blend of fatigue and doubt.

As Nigeria prepares for another round of national prayer, the bigger question remains: can spiritual efforts substitute for political will, sound policy, and economic competence? For many citizens, the answer is painfully clear.