National Coordinator and Executive Director of National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, George Nwabueze, insists he is the legitimate head of the agency which he said has been in operation for sixteen years under the supervision of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. President Bola Tinubu Friday ordered Nwabueze’s arrest over the outfit, which the ICPC said is fake, insisting that the accused was running it with the collaboration of senior public servants in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Three Federal Permanent Secretaries were also ordered suspended by the President and their names given as M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard Pheelangwah. Nwabueze who appeared surprised by the allegation, said, “Made in Nigeria Special Project Office is a project office in the OSGF. I don’t know where fake agency comes from; a programme that has been in the SGF’s office since 16 July 2010 was just discovered yesterday (Friday) after 16 years; Nigeria is a funny country.” He earlier tendered his appointment letter to rebuff ICPC’s claim of his agency's illegality. The letter, dated October 3, 2025, was purportedly issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, referenced OSGF/MIN/59310/11/205 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, Nadungu Gagare. Addressed to 'Hon. George Buchi Nwabueze, National Coordinator, Made in Nigeria Project Office, OSGF, Three Arms Zone, Abuja,' the letter conveyed the approval of his appointment as National Coordinator/Executive Director of the Made in Nigeria Project Office under the OSGF. According to the document, the appointment was for a five-year tenure beginning from July 2025 and was renewable. 'I am directed to formally convey the approval of your appointment as National Coordinator/Executive Director of the Made in Nigeria Project Office under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,' the letter stated. It added that the appointment followed 'a careful evaluation of your commitment, contribution, and capacity in delivering on the mandate of the Special Project Office.' The letter went on to list Nwabueze’s responsibilities to include the supervision and development of programmes, projects and policies; supervision of regional and state coordinators across the 36 states; and organisation of exhibitions, trade expos, economic summits and other promotional initiatives aimed at promoting indigenous products and services It further stated that the project was to operate temporarily from Room B53, Ground Floor, within the OSGF complex. 'Please note that this appointment is at the pleasure of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and in line with the objectives of the Made in Nigeria initiative under the Renewed Hope Agenda'.

Posted: 2months ago

Author: Editor in Chief

Current date: 18 October 2026