Several state governments were reportedly misled into nominating coordinators for the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, which the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has identified as a fictitious agency operating under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

TheCable reports that the agency sent letters to at least 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory in 2025, requesting the nomination of state coordinators.

The letters, signed by Nwabueze Buchi George, who presented himself as the agency’s executive director and national coordinator, described the appointments as necessary to strengthen collaboration between the federal project office and state governments on local production, industrial growth and trade.

Some states initially ignored the requests, but the agency reportedly sent repeated reminders. By January 2026, some governments had received as many as three letters urging them to submit nominees.

Sources said most states eventually nominated aides or members of their executive councils because they believed the agency was legitimate, particularly as some officials within the OSGF were allegedly involved in its activities.

TheCable’s findings showed that the agency listed 20 state coordinators on its website, while an insider said additional nominees were not published. The coordinators were also reportedly added to a WhatsApp group where information about the agency’s activities was shared.

In May 2026, 28 state coordinators were inaugurated in Nasarawa State. Governor Abdullahi Sule attended the ceremony and was decorated as grand patron of the project office.

The development came shortly after President Bola Tinubu ordered the arrest of George following an ICPC investigation into the fictitious agency.

An ICPC report reportedly found evidence of collusion between the project’s leadership and some permanent secretaries within the OSGF.

The Anambra State Government has since explained that its secretary to the state government, Chiamaka Nnake, was nominated as coordinator after receiving an official letter from George. Nnake said she had no knowledge of or connection to the agency beyond the engagements formally communicated to the state.

The episode has raised fresh concerns over how an unrecognised organisation was able to operate for months while presenting itself as a federal government initiative and securing the participation of several state governments.