Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Made in Nigeria Project Office has rejected allegations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that it is a fake federal agency, insisting it has operated under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) for 16 years.
National Coordinator and Executive Director of the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, George Nwabueze, dismisses the allegation during an interview with Sunday PUNCH, saying the office is a recognised project under the OSGF.
The ICPC had earlier announced that President Bola Tinubu ordered Nwabueze’s arrest over allegations that he was operating what the commission described as a fictitious federal agency with the support of some senior public servants.
Responding to the allegation, Nwabueze insists the office is legitimate.
“Made in Nigeria Special Project Office is a project office in the OSGF. We 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. After 16 years; Nigeria is a funny country.”
To support his claim, Nwabueze shares what he describes as his appointment letter on LinkedIn.
The document dated October 3, 2025, purports to show that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation approved his appointment as National Coordinator and Executive Director of the Made in Nigeria Project Office for a renewable five-year tenure beginning in July 2025.
According to the letter, his responsibilities include supervising national programmes, coordinating state offices, organising trade exhibitions, economic summits and promoting indigenous products and services.
The proposal, dated April 17, 2025, argues that the initiative has promoted Nigerian products locally and internationally, attracted investment, supported employment and encouraged local production.
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Oluwafunbi Bello 
Hope Ajayi 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius