Victor Ezeja and Kayode ShopekanBy Victor Ezeja & Kayode Shopekan
As Nigeria found itself in the seemingly intractable scourge of insecurity, one of its citizens, a chemical engineer, had silently set up production plants in two locations – Ogun and Rivers States- to produce military hardware.
Adetokumbo Ogundeyin’s Proforce Limited – a defence solution provider – specialises in manufacturing armoured vehicles, weapons and personal protection equipment. Information available on the company’s website indicates that Proforce Limited was incorporated in 2008 have set a vision to become a leading global amoury and defence products provider.
The company produces Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), Infant Combat Vehicles (ICVs), Tactical Armoured Vehicles, Military trucks, Armoured Tanks, Armoured SUVs & Sedans, Armoured Boats and Marine Vessels, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV-Drones), Armoured Helmets & Vests, rifles of different sizes, Architectural safe houses/rooms (for banks and embassies and other big establishments).
The company is said to be supplying defence equipment to the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, and other security organisations.
Apart from the security agencies, the company also supplies its products to financial institutions, corporate organisations,and diplomatic missions in Nigeria.
Proforce is said to be the only manufacturer of amoured vehicles, weapons and equipment for personal security in the whole Sub-Saharan Africa, as it also exports products to other African countries like Rwanda, Central Africa and South Sudan.
The company also has partnership with experts in Israel, South Africa and United States.
There is no doubt that Proforce could help Nigeria cut down its expenditure on importation of arms for defence purposes and offer a window of opportunity for earning foreign exchange through exports to other countries, given the rising cases of insecurity in parts of the world.
Prime Business Africa visited its production facility at Ode-Remo in Ogun State on Monday October 18, 2021, to have a feel of what those familiar with the project said was a huge innovation.
Located in the rural town of Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State, the factory will naturally prove hard to find by those not so conversant with the terrain. No specific address of the company is found anywhere on its verified website; neither is there any in other information materials being disseminated by the company, except the name of the town.
Upon Prime Business Africa’s arrival, the reporters could not access the facility. The reporters observed heavy presence of army officers stationed at strategic points in the area, obviously to provide security for the facility.
Asked why the entrance gate of the private facility was having an insignia strikingly close to that of the Nigerian Army, a man believed to be the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the company said ”there is partnership between the Army and Proforce, hence the ‘Military Zone” signposts placed around the entrance large gate.
When the reporters inquired why they could not be allowed access into the facility even when they presented their press identity cards, the security officer said, ”management does not allow this kind of visit.” He instead, provided a contact telephone number for the top management of the company , which he said had the authority to schedule appointments with visitors, particularly the press.
A call to the telephone number displayed on the website did not also help much, as the response was that the reporter should send a mail to an email address also found on the website to formally request for appointment and if approved, then an official visit to the facility could be possible.
Prime Business Africa subsequently sent an email to the designated email address, requesting an appointment to officially visit the facility in Ogun State for a feel of the venture as being publicised. The email was, however, not responded to as at the time of this filing this report.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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