The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to appear before its ad-hoc committee investigating the alleged establishment and operations of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The lawmakers’ action followed revelations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that it had no official relationship with the council and had earlier sought clarification from the NSA over concerns surrounding its legitimacy.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Dunoma Ahmed, disclosed this while appearing before the committee on Tuesday. He presented a memorandum dated July 21, 2026, explaining the ministry’s position on the controversial body.
Ahmed revealed that Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claimed to be the Director-General of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PEAC/PFIPC), approached the ministry on three occasions seeking collaboration and endorsement for a proposed World Investment Summit in Nigeria.
According to him, the requests were submitted on June 26, 2025; August 5, 2025; and June 5, 2026, but the ministry declined to act on them due to observed discrepancies and the need for proper verification.
The ministry stated that it later contacted the Office of the National Security Adviser on October 16, 2025, seeking clarification on Adeyemi’s identity and status.
The NSA, in a response dated November 26, 2025, reportedly informed the ministry that checks with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President showed that Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew was unknown to any office of the Federal Government.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry told the committee that it had never engaged with PFIPC in any diplomatic, bilateral, or multilateral activities.
“The Ministry did not participate in any diplomatic engagement or bilateral and multilateral discussions held by the PFIPC. The Ministry has never had any official interaction or engagement with the PFIPC or its alleged Director-General,” the ministry stated.
However, members of the committee questioned why further action was not taken after the ministry discovered that the council allegedly lacked government recognition.
A member of the committee, Abubakar Hassan Fulata, asked why the ministry did not formally notify the alleged PFIPC director-general that the organisation was not legally recognised.
“After confirming from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the Chief of Staff to Mr President that this entity does not exist legally,
did you communicate to the so-called Director-General that this organisation is illegal and that you should not interact with it any further?” Fulata queried.
The committee chairman, however, said the ministry acted appropriately by referring the matter to the NSA but insisted that the security agency must explain what happened afterwards.
The lawmakers are expected to continue their investigation into the alleged PFIPC operations and determine how the organisation functioned despite questions over its official status.
Samuel Agada is a writer and media contributor from Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Jos and a former banker with GTBank and FCMB. A prolific writer, songwriter, educator, and Gospel preacher, he is passionate about informing, inspiring, and impacting society through his work.