At various points in 2025, state governments received letters requesting the nomination of coordinators for the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office.

On Friday, President Bola Tinubu ordered the arrest of Nwabueze Buchi George, who was said to be the executive director/national coordinator of the “fictitious” agency.

Following an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the agency was found to be unrecognised despite operating under the office of the secretary to the government of the federation (OSGF).

TheCable reports that findings revealed that the Made in Nigeria Project Office sent letters to at least 15 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

The letters were titled: “REQUEST FOR NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF A STATE COORDINATOR FOR THE MADE IN NIGERIA PROJECT OFFICE.”

TheCable quoting a source familiar with the situation, disclosed that some state governments initially took no action on the request to nominate state coordinators.

After receiving no response, the agency sent multiple reminder letters to the state governments.

It is understood that as of January 2026, some state governments had received three separate letters signed by George, requesting that they send the names of their nominees.

In one of the letters, the agency said the appointment of state coordinators is “critical to strengthening collaboration between the Federal Project Office and State Government in promoting local production”.

the third reminder letter

“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 signed by George reads.

“The appointment of State Coordinators is critical to strengthening collaboration between the Federal Project Office and State Government in promoting local production, empowering SMIEs, advancing industrial growth, and ensuring active State participation in National and International Trade and Investment Engagements.

“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.”

STATE GOVERNMENTS FINALLY RESPOND

Another source privy to the agency’s activities said that most state governments eventually nominated aides or members of their executive council.

The state governments were under the assumption that the Made in Nigeria Project Office was genuine, given that some OSGF officials were seen to be involved.

“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.

“So if there is collusion with permanent secretaries within OSGF, it is easy to present the project as a genuine project.

“They deceived states into nominating state coordinators.”

the Kaduna Govt acknowledged the letter in October 2025
the Anambra Govt's acknowledgement letter was dated February 2026

A review of the Made in Nigeria Project Office’s website shows the portraits of 20 state coordinators.

The states are Kogi, Bauchi, Oyo, Taraba, Kano, Ondo, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, Abia, Sokoto, Ogun, Anambra, Osun, Kebbi, and Delta. (The website is archived here).

An insider said that not all the pictures of nominated state coordinators were published on the agency’s website.

some of the state coordinators

TheCable also reports that nominated state coordinators were added to a WhatsApp group, where information was regularly disseminated.

In November 2025, after one of the state coordinators was added to the group, a message was sent asking them to send their photographs.

“All state coordinators to send their portrait photographs for profiling, calendar and on our official website,” the message reads.

 

ABDULLAHI SULE ATTENDED INAUGURATION OF STATE COORDINATORS

In May 2026, the inauguration of the state coordinators took place in Nasarawa state.

During the inauguration, 28 state coordinators took the oath of office.

Abdullahi Sule, governor of Nasarawa, attended the inauguration ceremony and was decorated by George as a grand patron of the Made in Nigeria Project Office.

Orduen Andrew Okon, the state coordinator for Benue state, posted pictures of the inauguration ceremony on Facebook.

Orduen Ikon(second from right), state coordinator for Benue, and his team paid Buchi a visit in February 2026.

ANAMBRA GOVERNMENT REACTS

Chiamaka Nnake, secretary to Anambra government, is the state coordinator of the agency.

In a statement on Saturday, Nnake said Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, nominated her for the role after receiving a letter signed by George.

“Following the nominations, Focal Persons from the 36 states have been in a WhatsApp group engaging on issues relating to the activities of the office,” she said.

“More recently, the same office wrote to the State requesting that Anambra host the South East Made-in-Nigeria Fair.

“The request was approved, and an inaugural meeting was held about two weeks ago, with the National Coordinator in attendance.

“Since then, the State Committee has been working on preparations for the Fair, which is scheduled to take place from 2nd – 5th December 2026.”

Nnake said she has no knowledge of — or any connection to — the activities of the agency beyond its official engagements.

WHO IS NWABUEZE BUCHI?

On his LinkedIn page, Buchi described himself as the founder and president of the Globe Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Globe Economic and Trade Development Council.

He was also said to “direct corporate initiatives” as the chairman/CEO of FOWCOM Limited, “specialising in construction and real estate asset management”.

Buchi said he obtained a law degree from Godfrey Okoye University and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the National Open University of Nigeria, as well as an advanced professional legal practice training at Arden University.

He described himself as a former United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ambassador and alleged that he received a UN Medal of Honour for his “activism through the Global Family Funds on Education, which funds schooling for underprivileged children”.

Buchi also described himself as a published author on family and social reforms, “including Failed Fathers and The Strong Woman Still Struggles”.

On his work in the now-controversial Made in Nigeria Project Office, he said his mandate focuses on “standardising local products and boosting Made-in-Nigeria brands globally”.

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