States Misled Into Naming Coordinators for Alleged Fake Made-in-Nigeria Agency
Several state governments were reportedly misled into nominating coordinators for a federal project office that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) later found to be unrecognised.
The National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office had, at various times in 2025, written to at least 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory requesting the nomination of state coordinators.
The letters, titled “Request for Nomination and Appointment of a State Coordinator for the Made in Nigeria Project Office,” were signed by Nwabueze Buchi George, who presented himself as the executive director and national coordinator of the project.
According to sources familiar with the matter, some state governments initially ignored the requests. However, the project office reportedly sent several reminders, with some states receiving as many as three letters by January 2026.
One of the letters described the appointment of state coordinators as essential to strengthening collaboration between the federal project office and state governments, particularly in promoting local production, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and expanding trade and investment opportunities.
The states eventually began responding, with several governments nominating political appointees, aides or members of their executive councils.
Sources said the states were convinced that the project was legitimate because of its alleged links to officials within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“When you analyse what ICPC reported, they stated that there was collusion between the leadership of the project and some permanent secretaries within OSGF,” a source said.
The source added that the alleged involvement of OSGF officials made it easier for the project to appear genuine and ultimately led states to nominate coordinators.
The project office’s website subsequently displayed photographs of coordinators from 20 states, including Kogi, Bauchi, Oyo, Taraba, Kano, Ondo, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, Abia, Sokoto, Ogun, Anambra, Osun, Kebbi and Delta.
However, an insider said not all nominated coordinators were featured on the website.
The coordinators were also reportedly added to a WhatsApp group where information about the activities of the project was shared. In November 2025, members were asked to submit their photographs for profiling, a calendar and publication on the project’s website.
In May 2026, an inauguration ceremony for the coordinators was held in Nasarawa State, where 28 coordinators reportedly took their oath of office.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, attended the ceremony and was decorated by George as a grand patron of the project office.
The controversy intensified after President Bola Tinubu ordered George’s arrest on Friday following an ICPC investigation, which reportedly found that the agency was fictitious and had no official recognition despite operating under the purported authority of the OSGF.
Anambra government explains nomination
The Anambra State government confirmed that its Secretary to the State Government, Chiamaka Nnake, was among those appointed as a state coordinator.
Nnake said Governor Chukwuma Soludo nominated her after the state received a letter signed by George.
She explained that focal persons from the 36 states had been communicating through a WhatsApp group about the activities of the office.
According to her, the project office had also requested that Anambra host the South-East Made-in-Nigeria Fair. The state approved the request, and an inaugural meeting was held about two weeks ago with George in attendance.
Preparations for the fair, scheduled for December 2 to 5, 2026, had subsequently commenced.
Nnake, however, said she had no knowledge of or connection with the activities of the office beyond the official engagements communicated to the state.
Who is Buchi George?
George’s LinkedIn profile describes him as the founder and president of the Globe Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Globe Economic and Trade Development Council.
He also identified himself as chairman and chief executive officer of FOWCOM Limited, a company he said specialises in construction and real estate asset management.
George claimed to have obtained a law degree from Godfrey Okoye University and a Master of Laws from the National Open University of Nigeria.
He also described himself as a former United Nations Millennium Development Goals ambassador and said his work with the controversial project was focused on standardising local products and promoting Nigerian brands internationally.
The developments have now raised questions over how the purported project operated for months, secured the participation of state governments and held an inauguration ceremony before its legitimacy was challenged.
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