Nwabueze Buchi George, the embattled National Coordinator and Executive Director of the Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, has strongly dismissed claims that his organization is a fictitious entity.
Addressing journalists and critics during a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday, August 22, George asserted that the project is a legitimate initiative operating under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). Responding to recent moves by law enforcement, he attributed the growing public scrutiny to a sheer lack of awareness.
“A programme that has been in the SGF’s office since July 16, 2010, was just discovered yesterday as fake? After 16 years, Nigeria is a funny country,” George stated. “How can you discover a 16-year-old program in 2026? It means you have been blind. We are committed to national development.”
The scrutiny intensified on Friday, August 21, 2026, when the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), briefed State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Dr. Aliyu disclosed that the ICPC uncovered the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office during an investigation into another unapproved body, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
According to the ICPC, George’s outfit was illegally allocated physical space within the OSGF complex without authorization from the Presidency.
Following the State House briefing, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the immediate arrest of George, noting he operated under multiple aliases and directed the suspension of three senior public servants in the OSGF linked to the setup.
In his defense, George produced an official appointment letter dated October 3, 2025, which conveyed approval for his five-year tenure as National Coordinator starting July 2025. He also cited historic correspondence from July 19, 2010, bearing reference number NIG@50/S.7/C.3/345, to prove long-standing ties to the OSGF.
When reached for comment regarding the office’s status, OSGF spokesperson Christopher Ugwuegbulam stated that the office would require a formal written inquiry before issuing an official response on the ongoing probe. The ICPC maintains that its actions adhere strictly to due process as investigations into unapproved public bodies continue.
