{
  "id": 2797714,
  "title": "EXCLUSIVE: How Nigeria’s new ‘fake’ agency built nationwide network, sought state funds, land, more",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/exclusive-how-nigerias-new-fake-agency-built-nationwide-network",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-23T14:00:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Premium Times",
    "slug": "premium-times",
    "url": "https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/904907-exclusive-how-nigerias-new-fake-agency-built-nationwide-network-sought-state-funds-land-more.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "A fake agency claiming to be the \"Made-in-Nigeria Agency\" built a nationwide network and sought support from state governments. According to Premium Times, the agency wrote to governors in six states - Lagos, Imo, Ondo, Sokoto, Edo, and Nasarawa - between January and February, requesting government support, state coordinators, funding or fees, land, and participation in programmes in Nigeria and abroad.\n\nThe agency's actions were exposed after Anambra State Government revealed that it had planned to host a fair in collaboration with the fake agency, as reported by Daily Post Nigeria. The state's Secretary to the Government, Chiamaka Nnake, was nominated as the state Focal Person for the agency by Governor Chukwuma Soludo. Nnake stated that she received a letter from the \"Made-in-Nigeria Office\" in January 2026, requesting the nomination of a State Focal Person, and was subsequently nominated by the governor in February 2026.\n\nNnake's nomination was part of a larger network of state coordinators, with Focal Persons from all 36 states engaging in a WhatsApp group to discuss the agency's activities. Daily Post Nigeria reported that the agency had tricked the Anambra State Government into hosting its maiden fair, which was scheduled to take place in December.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "‘How fake Made-in-Nigeria Agency tricked us’ – Anambra govt",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/how-fake-made-in-nigeria-agency-tricked-us-anambra-govt",
        "published": "2026-08-23T08:53:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "Fake agency: ‘Soludo nominated me’ — Anambra SSG clarifies role",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/fake-agency-soludo-nominated-me-anambra-ssg-clarifies-role",
        "published": "2026-08-23T13:05:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}