Nigeria’s auto industry stands at a critical juncture, full of untapped potential but grappling with structural imbalances.
Once thriving in the 1960s and 1970s due to strong government backing, the sector’s trajectory was altered by privatization in the 1980s, leading to a steep decline in local vehicle production.
According to the former Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, the industry contributes only 0.04% to the country’s GDP, despite having the capacity to contribute up to 25%.
The minister also noted that while only about 10,000 people are currently employed in the sector, the industry could employ up to 300,000 Nigerians if adequately revived.
According to Nairametrics, Nigeria imported N546.79 billion worth of vehicles in 2020, which increased to N695.40 billion in 2021. However, imports declined slightly to N655.69 billion in 2022 before soaring by 124.7% to N1.47 trillion in 2023, fueled by increased demand and inventory buildup by auto dealers.
In 2024, imported cars saw a sharp 14.3% drop to N1.26 trillion, a reversal of the previous year’s boom, reflecting the deepening impact of economic instability on consumer spending.
The gap between vehicle demand and local production is an area of concern. Reports from the International Trade Administration indicate that Nigeria needs about 720,000 vehicles annually, but domestic assemblers can only supply 14,000 units, leaving the country heavily reliant on used imports.
Against this backdrop, a number of companies are making bold moves to restore Nigeria’s automotive legacy.
Here are the key players driving Nigeria’s vehicle assembly industry:
CEO Proforce Ltd, Ade Ogundeyin
Proforce Limited was incorporated in 2008 as a subsidiary of O’la‑Kleen Holdings Limited, a Nigerian conglomerate with operations in Ghana, Liberia, the United States, Kuwait, and China.
Proforce was founded by Ade Ogundeyin, who has a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos and is a registered Engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). He established the company, originally as O’la Kleen Nigeria Ltd, and is the group managing director.
The company emerged from modest beginnings in cleaning and facilities services and has grown into Nigeria’s first indigenous armoured‑vehicle manufacturer, offering defence and protection solutions across land, air, and sea. It employs 100% Nigerian technicians and welders across its bases in Nigeria, Dubai, and India.
As the only total defence provider in West Africa, Proforce has operated for over 16 years, building a reputation as Nigeria’s key independent provider of armoured vehicles and ballistic security products.
The armoured‑vehicle manufacturer’s headquarters is situated in Victoria Island, Lagos, with full assembly operations based in Ode-Remo, Ogun State, where its flagship defence automotive manufacturing plant is located.
A second production facility operates in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, servicing South‑South markets, and additional expansion plans exist for Abuja and Katsina under collaboration with DICON.
Proforce products include a wide variety of defence products such as Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), Armoured Cash-In-Transit Vehicles (CITs), Armoured SUVs, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV-Drones), Armoured Saloons and Sedans, Bulletproof Helmets and Vests, Military Trucks, Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs), Armoured Boats and Marine Vessels, Architectural Armouring (safe houses/rooms, e.g., for banks and embassies). Their products/ vehicles cater to the Military, Police, Security, cash-in-transit, Marine, Body Armour, and Architectural Armouring.
The defense manufacturer has the capacity to produce 20 units of its Ara MRAP and 40 units of the PF2 armored vehicle per month at its main plant in Ode Remo.
