Nigeria’s House of Representatives has summoned the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to explain why it allegedly ignored alerts about the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), a phantom agency accused of operating without legal recognition. Lawmakers are probing how the body managed to infiltrate government processes despite warnings from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The House of Representatives has intensified its probe into the alleged illegal operations of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), summoning the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to explain why it failed to act on alerts regarding the phantom agency.
During a recent hearing, lawmakers expressed concern that despite clear warnings from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the PFIPC continued to operate and even secured budgetary allocations. The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, testified that the ministry had received suspicious correspondence from one Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claimed to be the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the PFIPC.
Ahmed revealed that Adeyemi approached the ministry on three occasions — June 26, 2025; August 5, 2025; and June 5, 2026 — seeking endorsement for a proposed World Investment Summit in Nigeria. The ministry, however, declined all requests after identifying inconsistencies in the documents. In line with due diligence, the ministry wrote to ONSA on October 16, 2025, seeking clarification on Adeyemi’s status and the legitimacy of the PFIPC.
According to Ahmed, ONSA responded on November 26, 2025, confirming that inquiries with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President established that Adeyemi and the PFIPC were unknown to the federal government. Despite this, lawmakers noted that the agency allegedly obtained allocations in the 2026 budget and attempted to engage foreign investors using the Presidency’s name.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), has demanded explanations from ONSA and other ministries on how the PFIPC managed to infiltrate government systems. Lawmakers are particularly alarmed by revelations that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) opened accounts for the council and that the phantom agency allegedly recruited staff and secured office space at the Federal Secretariat.
Further controversy surrounds Adeyemi’s claims that he paid ₦400 million to secure appointments and that the Chief of Staff to the President demanded a percentage of the agency’s take-off grant. The Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, has denied the allegations and filed a ₦15 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi.
The House committee insists that the matter goes beyond administrative lapses, describing it as a potential breach of national security. Lawmakers argue that ONSA’s failure to act decisively after receiving alerts raises questions about oversight and accountability in Nigeria’s governance structure.
Analysts say the PFIPC scandal highlights systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s bureaucracy, where phantom agencies can exploit loopholes to gain legitimacy. The investigation is expected to determine how the council secured budgetary allocations and whether officials colluded in its operations.
As the probe continues, Nigerians await clarity on how such a phantom agency could thrive despite multiple red flags. The outcome of the investigation may shape future reforms aimed at tightening oversight of government institutions.
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