SCOA Nigeria Plc has rejected recent media reports criticising the appointment of its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Massad Boulos, as Senior Adviser on Arab and Middle East Affairs to the United States President-elect Donald Trump, describing them as “baseless and misguided.”
The firm called the attacks a smear campaign driven by individuals who were unaware of his significant achievements in business and leadership, unfairly targeting his professional accomplishments and character.
Boulos, a Lebanese-American businessman and father-in-law to Trump’s daughter, Tiffany, has been under scrutiny since his nomination.
But providing more answers, the Non-Executive Independent Director and Chairman of Audit Committee, SCOA Nigeria Plc, Mr Magnus Onyibe, in a statement on Sunday, described the conglomerate owner as a highly accomplished businessman with a proven track record of delivering exceptional results across various industries.
The statement titled, “Celebrating the Legacy of Mr Massad Boulos’s Leadership at SCOA Nigeria Plc”, highlighted Boulos’s pivotal role in steering the company to its current status as a key player in Nigeria’s industrial and economic sectors.
He added that the serial investor is an expert at executing complex international transactions and facilitating trade between Nigeria, France, and Germany.
The statement read in part, “Recent media criticisms questioning the breadth of experience and business acumen of Mr Massad Boulos, the incoming Senior Adviser on Arab and Middle East Affairs to US President-elect Donald Trump, are not only misguided but also dismissive of the remarkable track record of both the man and the companies he has been instrumental in nurturing.
“Contrary to unfounded claims in certain media outlets, the suggestion that Mr Boulos is not a billionaire is both baseless and misleading. As President-elect Donald Trump rightly described, Mr. Massad Boulos is a “deal-maker,” a characterisation grounded in fact.
“His proven ability to negotiate and execute complex international transactions has facilitated significant partnerships between Nigerian, German, and French businesses, delivering substantial value and mutual benefit.
“His ability to navigate the complexities of international commerce, exemplified by the supply of a significant fleet of trucks to Lafarge Africa through a tripartite arrangement between a logistics firm, GPC and Union Bank Plc, has earned him widespread recognition and respect.”
The statement further highlighted the activities of the businessman in Nigeria.
It continued, “Mr Boulos’s leadership has not only been vital to SCOA Plc’s achievements but also to the broader international business successes of the FADOUL Group.
“This is precisely the kind of experience and strategic vision he brings to his new role as Senior Adviser on Arab and Middle East Affairs to President-elect Trump.
“ The truth remains that Mr. Boulos played a pivotal role in mobilising the Arab-American and Middle Eastern-American vote, contributing significantly to the Trump-Vance victory—an achievement that underscores his political and organizational acumen.
“Efforts to denigrate Mr. Boulos’s qualifications and achievements are not only futile but also a disservice to the facts. Mr. Boulos’s expertise and accomplishments are well-suited for his new role, where he will undoubtedly deliver impactful results on behalf of President-elect Trump and the United States.”
Onyibe further explained that under Boulos’s leadership, SCOA Nigeria Plc has cemented its position as a leading supplier of trucks, power generators, agricultural equipment, and construction machinery.
He added that the company serves major clients, including Julius Berger, Lafarge Africa, Dangote Group, and others, supporting critical infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Abuja-Kano highway.
According to him, SCOA has also played a role in transformative projects such as Eko Atlantic City, providing machinery essential to the development of the urban project set to host the world’s largest US. Embassy.
The statement continued, “For instance, SCOA Nigeria Plc, where Mr. Boulos serves as Managing Director/CEO, is far from being just another company. It is a formidable force in Nigeria’s industrial and economic landscape.
“With roots spanning over four decades, it holds the distinction of being the first European automotive assembly plant in Nigeria.
“In the 1970s, SCOA Nigeria PLC made a name for itself by assembling Peugeot 404 and then 504 pickup trucks at its assembly plant at Apapa, Lagos and service centre at its Lapal House facility on Lagos Island. Today, the company continues this proud legacy, assembling, distributing, and marketing M.A.N trucks and buses, power generators, tractors, agricultural equipment, industrial equipment and other heavy-duty construction and mining machinery critical to Nigeria’s key sectors.
“SCOA Nigeria PLC’s clients include some of the most prominent and respected names in Nigeria’s construction industry, such as Julius Berger—widely regarded as the nation’s leading construction firm—Lafarge Africa PLC, a major cement producer, the Chagoury Group, renowned for developing the prestigious Banana Island, a premier residential enclave in Lagos, the DANGOTE Group, and many others. “
It added, “Beyond trucks, SCOA Nigeria Plc is a trusted supplier of concrete, road construction and mining equipment, partnering with leading infrastructure companies to drive Nigeria’s development. For example, Julius Berger relies heavily on SCOA’s equipment for large-scale projects, including the 376km Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway and the 43.6km Lagos-Shagamu stretch of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Abuja-Kano Highway.
“Similarly, Hi-Tech Construction, currently working on the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Lagos-Badagry-Sokoto road network, depends significantly on SCOA Plc for the machinery and technology required to execute these ambitious projects, aimed at enhancing connectivity and trade across Nigeria’s southern, central, and northern regions.
“SCOA PLC has also been instrumental in the development of Eko Atlantic City, a groundbreaking urban project built on reclaimed land from the Atlantic Ocean.
“This visionary initiative, designed to address Lagos’s urbanization challenges and promote sustainable development, has been made possible in part by state-of-the-art machinery supplied by SCOA. Notably, Eko Atlantic City is set to host the United States Embassy, projected to be the largest of its kind globally upon completion, further underscoring the strategic importance of this landmark project.
“SCOA Nigeria Plc’s impact extends beyond Nigeria’s shores. As a member of the FADOUL Group – one of the largest and most successful family-owned businesses in Africa – its influence spans across West and Central Africa.”
He noted that SCOA Nigeria Plc’s influence extends beyond the country’s borders as part of the FADOUL Group, adding that it is multinational conglomerate valued at over $1bn.
Established in 1966, the group operates across West and Central Africa, employing over 20,000 people and contributing to regional economic growth.
“This legacy highlights the scale and scope of the operations under Mr. Boulos’s leadership,” the statement concluded.
