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The National Coordinator and Executive Director of the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, George Nwabueze, has continued to defend the legitimacy of his office after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission described it as a fake federal agency. Nwabueze shared additional documents on LinkedIn, including a July 2010 letter purportedly issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which he said demonstrated the project’s longstanding connection to the OSGF.
The letter, addressed to Nwabueze, then identified as the Executive Director of The Hats Centre in Owerri, acknowledged a proposal for a “Made in Naija” project to be held in Ireland as part of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Nwabueze argued that the project had existed for about 16 years and questioned why its status was only being challenged in 2026. He also released promotional materials outlining the office’s stated goals, including boosting local manufacturing, creating jobs, reducing import dependence and improving the global competitiveness of Nigerian products.
However, PUNCH noted that it could not independently verify the authenticity of the 2010 letter. The controversy follows an ICPC investigation which alleged that the office operated without presidential authorisation, prompting President Bola Tinubu to order the arrest of Nwabueze and the suspension of three permanent secretaries linked to the OSGF.
