President Bola Tinubu’s administration has uncovered how a purported federal agency allegedly built a nationwide network of state coordinators after presenting itself as an official project operating under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The organisation, known as the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, reportedly contacted several state governments in 2025 and asked them to nominate officials to serve as state coordinators.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) identified the organisation as a fictitious government office operating without the required presidential authorisation.
President Tinubu has since ordered the immediate arrest of George Buchi Nwabueze, identified by the ICPC as the promoter of the organisation.
Three permanent secretaries, M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah, were also suspended over their alleged links to the development.
ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed the discovery after briefing the President on the commission’s investigation into fictitious government bodies and weaknesses within the public service.
The commission said the purported agency had been given office space within the OSGF premises, making it appear to be a legitimate government establishment.
That appearance appears to have played a major role in convincing state governments to engage with the organisation.
Letters Sent To State Governments
Documents and accounts surrounding the organisation show that its activities went beyond maintaining an office in Abuja.
At different times in 2025, letters were sent to state governments requesting the nomination of officials as coordinators for the purported Made-in-Nigeria project.
The letters were titled, “REQUEST FOR NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF A STATE COORDINATOR FOR THE MADE IN NIGERIA PROJECT OFFICE.”
Some states reportedly did not respond to the first letters.
The organisation then followed up with reminder letters. In some cases, states received as many as three letters asking them to forward the names of nominees.
One of the reminders described the appointment of state coordinators as “critical to strengthening collaboration between the Federal Project Office and State Government in promoting local production”.
The letter also stated that the coordinators would help with efforts involving small and medium-sized enterprises, industrial development, trade and investment activities.
“I am directed to respectfully write as a Third Reminder to Your Excellency on our earlier correspondences requesting the nomination and appointment of a State Coordinator to represent the state in the Made in Nigeria Project Office,” the letter stated.
It added that the appointment would support collaboration between the supposed federal office and state governments.
“We kindly seek Your Excellency’s prompt consideration by forwarding the details of a suitable nominee to enable formal confirmation and the issuance of an appointment letter from our office.”
The wording, official-looking correspondence and the claim that the project operated under the OSGF reportedly gave the organisation credibility.
States Started Making Nominations
Several state governments eventually responded to the requests.
Some nominated commissioners, special advisers, secretaries to state governments and other senior officials to represent them.
The arrangement was not limited to a few states. The organisation created what appeared to be a nationwide structure.
A review of its website showed photographs and profiles of coordinators from states including Kogi, Bauchi, Oyo, Taraba, Kano, Ondo, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, Abia, Sokoto, Ogun, Anambra, Osun, Kebbi and Delta.
However, sources familiar with the operation said the names and photographs of all nominated coordinators were not published on the website.
The organisation also created a WhatsApp group for state coordinators.
Through the group, information about meetings, activities and other programmes was circulated.
In November 2025, members of the group were asked to submit their photographs for official profiling.
“All state coordinators to send their portrait photographs for profiling, calendar and on our official website,” a message sent to the group read.
The development suggested that the organisation was attempting to establish a structure similar to that of a recognised federal programme.
Nasarawa Inauguration Raised More Questions
The purported project also held an inauguration ceremony for state coordinators.
The event took place in Nasarawa State in May 2026.
About 28 state coordinators reportedly took the oath of office during the ceremony.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State attended the event.
He was also decorated by Nwabueze as a grand patron of the organisation.
Pictures from the event were later shared publicly by some of the coordinators, further giving the impression that the project had official backing.
The presence of a sitting governor at the ceremony also added another layer of credibility to the organisation’s activities.
At the time, there was no public indication that the organisation was operating without the necessary federal approval.
Anambra Government Explains Its Involvement
Politics Nigeria earlier reported that the Anambra State Government has also been linked to the fake agency.
The Secretary to the State Government, Chiamaka Nnake, was listed as the state focal person.
Nnake has since explained how she became involved.
She said the Anambra Government received a letter from the organisation in January 2026 requesting the nomination of a state focal person.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo subsequently nominated her for the position in February.
“In January 2026, the Governor received a letter from the Made-in-Nigeria Office, said to be under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, requesting the nomination of a State Focal Person,” Nnake said.
She added, “In response, the Governor, in February 2026, nominated me as the State Focal Person for Anambra State.”
According to her, the arrangement appeared genuine because representatives from the 36 states were involved in a WhatsApp group and participated in activities linked to the project.
The organisation later approached Anambra State with a request to host a Made-in-Nigeria fair.
The state approved the request and began preparations.
Nnake said the planned event is scheduled for December 2 to 5, 2026.
She, however, distanced herself from activities outside the official engagements she had with the organisation.
“Beyond these official interactions and engagements, I have no knowledge of, involvement in, or connection with any other activities, claims, or developments attributed to the said office,” she said.
Interestingly, the Anambra State Government only recently announced plans to host the Made-in-Nigeria Christmas Market in Awka from December 2 to 5.
The state had said the event would provide a platform for manufacturers, entrepreneurs and businesses to showcase locally produced goods.
Nwabueze Rejects Fake Agency Allegation
Nwabueze has disputed the allegation that he operated a fake government agency.
Following the ICPC disclosure, he reportedly maintained that the Made-in-Nigeria Project Office was a legitimate project office operating under the OSGF.
Politics Nigeria earlier reported that he produced an appointment letter which he said was issued by the OSGF in October 2025.
The document reportedly carried the OSGF letterhead and identified Nwabueze as the National Coordinator and Executive Director.
Nwabueze has also claimed that the project had existed for years and was connected to efforts to promote Nigerian-made goods.
The claims are now expected to form part of the investigation as authorities seek to establish how the organisation obtained government office space and interacted with state governments.
The ICPC, however, said its findings showed that the office had no presidential authorisation to operate as a federal agency.
Who Is George Buchi Nwabueze?
Nwabueze presents himself as a businessman, lawyer and advocate of Nigerian economic development.
On his professional profile, he describes himself as the founder and president of the Globe Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Globe Economic and Trade Development Council.
He has also been linked to FOWCOM Limited, where he describes himself as chairman and chief executive officer.
Nwabueze says he studied law at Godfrey Okoye University and obtained a Master of Laws degree from the National Open University of Nigeria.
He has also described himself as a former United Nations Millennium Development Goals ambassador and an author.
His profile indicates that his work with the Made-in-Nigeria project was focused on promoting local products and helping Nigerian brands gain international recognition.
However, his role in the controversial organisation is now at the centre of an ICPC investigation.
The commission said Nwabueze operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Hon. George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.
