Fake Agency Scandal Deepens As Experts Warn Nigeria Could Face “Fake States”

Fresh concerns have emerged over Nigeria’s government oversight system following the discovery of another alleged fake agency operating from within the federal government structure.

The latest controversy centres on the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, which the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, described as an unauthorised organisation allegedly operating from a government facility in Abuja.

ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed that the organisation was allegedly promoted by George Buchi Nwabueze, who reportedly operated under different variations of his name. Following a briefing from the anti-corruption agency, President Bola Tinubu ordered Nwabueze’s arrest and directed the suspension of three permanent secretaries in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the latest discovery emerged during the ICPC’s investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, allegedly promoted by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew. The organisation reportedly operated from the Federal Secretariat for about two years before the Presidency declared it fraudulent.

The emergence of another alleged fake government organisation has intensified questions over how groups with questionable official status are able to secure access to government facilities and present themselves as legitimate arms of the state.

Governance expert Dr Joe Abah warned that the problem could extend beyond the two organisations currently under investigation. He noted that several bodies operate around government offices and could potentially exploit government-sounding names, official-looking logos and government addresses to gain credibility and raise funds.

Abah also recounted an experience in which an organisation repeatedly offered him and his staff foreign trips under the guise of a mentorship programme. His concerns reportedly grew after the promoter failed to provide clear information about who established the organisation or how it was financed.

Professor Murtala Muhammad, Vice-President of the Nigerian Political Science Association, described the development as more than an alleged case of individual wrongdoing, arguing that it exposed deeper weaknesses within Nigeria’s governance and institutional systems.

He said weak verification procedures, poor oversight, inadequate accountability and ineffective coordination between government agencies could create opportunities for private individuals to exploit the authority and reputation of the state.

Muhammad further expressed concern over allegations that the PFIPC attempted to obtain a budgetary allocation of about ₦1.3 billion, saying the development raised questions about the vulnerability of government’s financial and administrative systems.

He called for stronger verification procedures for government agencies and appointments, improved information sharing between institutions and tighter controls over public funds, stressing that arrests alone would not adequately address the underlying problems.

The political analyst also warned that the controversy could have implications for the Tinubu administration ahead of the 2027 general elections. He noted that opposition parties could use the allegations to portray the government as weak in administration, accountability and institutional oversight.

Similarly, the Executive Director of the Centre for Information Technology and Development, Y. Z. Ya’u, said the discovery should not come as a surprise, describing it as evidence of deeper institutional weaknesses.

Ya’u warned that if the situation is not properly addressed, Nigeria could eventually witness the emergence of fictitious states, governors and state assemblies attempting to access funds from the Federation Account.

Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, also called for a broader investigation, particularly following reports that the organisation allegedly had coordinators across about 20 states as well as representatives in China and the United States.

He questioned who appointed the alleged coordinators, how their appointments were communicated and which government officials interacted with them in their claimed capacities.

However, Nwabueze has rejected claims that the Made-in-Nigeria initiative is a phantom or unauthorised government agency. His management maintained that the project is an approved public-private initiative anchored on Executive Orders 003 of 2017 and 005 of 2018.

The management further clarified that the project had never presented itself as a statutory civil service agency, setting the stage for further scrutiny as authorities continue investigations into the allegations surrounding its operations.