Meet head of Nigeria’s new ‘fake’ agency, 20 state coordinators, reps in China, US

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of Hon. George Nwabueze, who is accused of promoting a fraudulent agency called the “Made in Nigeria Special Project Office.” The agency, according to authorities, operates without proper authorization and claims to be linked to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). Nwabueze, identified as the “promoter” of the scheme, was found to be using multiple variations of his name, including George Nathan Nwabueze, George Buchi Nwabueze, and Prince George Buchi Nwabueze. The ICPC, the anti-corruption watchdog, confirmed that the agency's structure includes a national coordinator, zonal directors, and 20 state coordinators, along with representatives in both China and the United States. According to the agency’s official website, Nwabueze holds the title of “Executive Director, National Coordinator.” The site also lists Dr Bassey B. Unaowo as “Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary on Political and Economic Affairs, OSGF,” Dr Hajara Njidda Amoni as Director, National Administration, and several individuals as zonal directors across different regions of the country. Among the zonal directors named are Mr Oladunjoye Musiliua for the South-West, Hafsat Sahabi Dange for the North, and Mrs Ugochi Akudo Nwosu for the South-East. The website further claims that the project is overseen by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, within the OSGF. However, the ICPC has stated that the agency was discovered operating within the OSGF premises without presidential approval, raising serious concerns over its legitimacy. The list of 20 state coordinators includes notable figures such as Dr Babangida Kabir Ruma from Katsina, Hon. Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim from Kaduna, and Hon. Dr Godwin Adolor from Delta. Some of these individuals reportedly hold or have previously held public offices or are associated with existing political or community organizations in their states. For example, in Taraba, Hon. Justin Aondoaseer Tyopuusu is noted as having served as a Special Assistant to Governor Agbu Kefas on Digital Economy and simultaneously as the state coordinator of the Made in Nigeria Special Project. The ICPC also revealed that three permanent secretaries, M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah, have been suspended pending investigations into their roles in allowing the unauthorized operation of the agency. These officials were allegedly complicit in providing the agency with space within the OSGF premises without proper presidential sanction. Further scrutiny has shown that Nwabueze appears to have used multiple aliases throughout his career, suggesting possible attempts to obscure his involvement in the scheme. His connections to the OSGF and the broader federal bureaucracy raise questions about how such an organization could operate under the guise of a legitimate government initiative. The Nigerian government has taken swift action against the alleged fraud, with Tinubu directing the immediate arrest of Nwabueze and the suspension of the implicated officials. The case highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring transparency and accountability within the executive branch, particularly concerning the establishment and oversight of new governmental initiatives. As the investigation continues, the focus will remain on determining the extent of the agency’s operations and the role of those who facilitated its existence.