December 14, (THEWILL) – SCOA Nigeria PLC has dismissed recent media reports criticizing its CEO, Dr. Massad Boulos, as baseless and ignorant of his extensive achievements in business and leadership.
The company described the attacks as part of a smear campaign targeting Boulos, who was recently nominated as Senior Adviser on Arab and Middle East Affairs by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Boulos, a Lebanese-American businessman and father-in-law to Trump’s daughter, Tiffany, has been under scrutiny since his nomination, with The New York Times describing him as a “small-time truck salesman” and questioning his wealth and influence.
In response, the Trump-Vance Transition Team released a statement on Friday condemning the allegations, labeling them as “fake news” and accusing detractors of attempting to undermine President-elect Trump’s administration.
SCOA Nigeria, through its Non-Executive Independent Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee, Magnus Onyibe, issued a detailed statement defending Boulos’s legacy and the company’s contributions under his leadership.
The statement, titled “Celebrating the Legacy of Mr. Massad Boulos’s Leadership at SCOA Nigeria PLC,” highlighted Boulos’s pivotal role in steering SCOA Nigeria PLC to its current status as a key player in Nigeria’s industrial and economic sectors.
“Recent media criticisms questioning the business acumen of Mr. Massad Boulos are not only misguided but dismissive of the remarkable track record of both the man and the companies he has been instrumental in nurturing,” Onyibe stated.
He said 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.
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 U.S. Embassy.
SCOA Nigeria PLC’s influence extends beyond the country’s borders as part of the FADOUL Group, a multinational conglomerate valued at over $1 billion. Established in 1966, the group operates across West and Central Africa, employing over 20,000 people and contributing to regional economic growth.
Contrary to claims about Boulos’s financial standing, Onyibe emphasised his expertise in complex international transactions and partnerships. “Massad Boulos is a dealmaker whose leadership has delivered substantial value to Nigerian, German, and French businesses,” he said.
Boulos’s role in Trump’s administration follows his successful efforts in mobilizing the Arab-American vote during the presidential election.
The Trump-Vance Transition Spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, described the criticism against Boulos as an orchestrated attempt to discredit President-elect Trump’s appointees.
As Onyibe noted, “Attempts to denigrate Mr. Boulos’s qualifications are futile and a disservice to the facts. His achievements speak volumes about his capability to deliver impactful results in his new role.”
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