Nigerians have expressed concern over the discovery of alleged fake agencies operating within the Federal Civil Service under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The development has sparked criticism, with many questioning how such organisations secured government offices, accessed public funds and operated without being detected.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recently exposed the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an alleged ghost agency that reportedly occupied office space, opened Central Bank accounts and received budgetary allocations.

For much of 2025, the PFIPC operated as an organisation created to attract foreign investment into Nigeria. It reportedly had an office inside the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, where government ministries are located.

Career civil servants were allegedly assigned to the agency, while it operated a website on the official government domain. The agency was also said to have received approval to recruit more than 300 workers despite a freeze on public-sector employment.

Although its website has reportedly been taken down, its Instagram account remains active.

The agency’s self-acclaimed Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, was said to have met cabinet ministers, financial regulators, anti-corruption officials and foreign diplomats.

The PFIPC was also reportedly included in the 2026 national budget with an allocation of N1.3 billion.

Adeyemi had accused the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of receiving N400 million through proxies and demanding an additional N200 million to facilitate his appointment.

The Presidency, however, dismissed the allegations, cleared Gbajabiamila of wrongdoing and described the PFIPC as a fictitious organisation. It also accused Adeyemi of attempting to evade criminal accountability by exploiting public trust.

Following an investigation ordered by President Tinubu, a Federal High Court issued an arrest warrant for Adeyemi. He was later arrested by police operatives and brought before the court.

The ICPC subsequently uncovered another alleged fake agency, the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The office was reportedly promoted by Prince George Buchi Nwabueze.

Following the discovery, President Tinubu ordered the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries — M.S. Danjuma, Engr. Nadungu Gagare and Richard Pheelangwah — over their alleged links to the unauthorised establishment of the office.

Speaking to DAILY POST, some Nigerians expressed shock that alleged fake agencies could operate inside the Federal Secretariat and interact with government officials without early detection.

Divine Akor described the development as more than an administrative embarrassment, saying it exposed serious weaknesses in government oversight.

“How can an organisation allegedly without a lawful mandate present itself as a Federal Government agency, operate within government premises and interact with public officials without being detected earlier?” he asked.

Akor said government agencies must have legal backing, approved structures, supervising authorities and verifiable official records.

He added that if existing safeguards were bypassed, the Tinubu administration must accept responsibility for the failure of institutional oversight.

Isaac Adeyemo, however, said Tinubu deserved credit for ordering investigations but stressed that investigations alone would not be enough.

He demanded explanations from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, the SGF’s office, relevant ministries and other supervisory bodies over how the alleged agencies were allowed to operate.

Adeyemo also called for the investigation of any government insiders who may have facilitated or protected the operations.

Blessing Ede urged the government to provide answers on whether public funds, facilities, documents, contracts or other privileges were accessed through the alleged fake agencies.

She called for the publication of a register containing all legally recognised federal agencies and their establishing laws.

Ede also demanded an audit of the financial activities linked to the organisations, verification of bodies occupying government premises and stronger digital checks for all federal institutions.

Similarly, Paul Ogbole called for officials responsible for supervisory failures to be held accountable.

He said the individuals behind the alleged fake agencies should face prosecution, alongside any regulatory or supervisory officials whose negligence allowed the organisations to operate.

Ogbole warned that the scandal should not end with a few arrests while the loopholes within the system remain open.

“If a fake agency can allegedly operate inside the Federal Government without immediate detection, then the real scandal is not only the fake agency. The real scandal is a system that made its existence possible,” he said.

Nigerians Demand Answers Over Fake Agencies Operating Under Tinubu

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