‘Fake agency’ coordinator breaks silence, shares appointment letter purportedly issued by SGF office

The national coordinator of the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, Nwabueze Buchi George, has released an appointment letter which he claims was issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

George shared the document on Saturday, shortly after President Bola Tinubu ordered his arrest over the alleged operation of a fake government agency within the premises of the SGF’s office.

The President also directed the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries following findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu said the discovery was made as part of a wider investigation into the activities of the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and other administrative lapses within government.

Responding to the allegations in a post on his LinkedIn page, George published an appointment letter bearing the letterhead of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The document, dated October 3, 2025, with reference number OSGF/MIN/59310/11/205, was reportedly signed by Nadungu Gagare, who was identified as the permanent secretary in the Political and Economic Affairs Office.

The letter was titled “Appointment as National Coordinator and Executive Director Made in Nigeria Project Office”.

It reads: “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 appointment follows a careful evaluation of your commitment, contribution, and capacity in delivering on the mandate of the Special Project Office.

“The appointment is a five-year tenure starting from July 2025 and is renewable.”

The document stated that George’s duties included overseeing the development and implementation of programmes, projects and policies, as well as supervising regional and state coordinators.

He was also assigned responsibility for organising exhibitions, trade expos, economic summits and other promotional activities aimed at advancing economic development through indigenous products and services.

The letter further stated that the project would operate from “the temporary Office Space at Room B53, Ground Floor, within the OSGF Complex” for its coordination activities.

It added that the appointment was “at the pleasure of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation” and was aligned with the objectives of the Made in Nigeria initiative under the Renewed Hope agenda.

TheCable had earlier reported that several state governments received letters from George requesting that they nominate state coordinators for the Made in Nigeria Project Office.