New ‘fake’ agency planned to raise N50bn before crackdown – Report

The alleged phantom Made in Nigeria Project Office had mapped out an ambitious N50 billion international investment campaign spanning Qatar, Kuwait, China, Hong Kong and Brazil — complete with zonal directors, 20 state coordinators and country representatives in the US and China — before President Bola Tinubu ordered its promoter’s arrest and suspended three Permanent Secretaries.

As reported by Daily Trust, information extracted from the organisation’s website revealed plans for an “Industrialize Nigeria: Locally Made for Global Access” campaign featuring exhibitions, business forums and trade events, claiming it would “attract over N50 billion into the national economy.”

The organisation presented itself as “a strategic initiative of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” naming George Buchi Nwabueze — who operated under at least five name variations — as Executive Director. The ICPC subsequently confirmed the office operated within SGF premises without presidential authorisation, making it the fourth alleged phantom agency uncovered alongside the PFIPC, FCT Investment Promotion Agency and Foreign Investment Promotion Agency.