In Nigeria’s rapidly growing cities and bustling interstate corridors, mass transit plays a vital role in connecting people, businesses, and communities.
While the sector has long faced challenges—from poor infrastructure to inconsistent regulation—local entrepreneurs are stepping up to modernize and expand mass transit across the country.
But behind the movement of people and goods across the country lies a powerful but often under-celebrated force: Nigeria’s locally owned transport companies.
According to Nairametrics, while most of the sector is dominated by state-run bus services or operators working under local motor park licenses, a distinct category of transport companies has quietly scaled up across the country.
Built from scratch, these businesses started with humble beginnings: a few buses, a regional route, and a vision. Decades later, they’ve evolved into nationwide operations, boasting fleets of hundreds (even thousands) of vehicles that serve commuters, traders, and travelers across all 36 states and beyond. From the busy terminals of Lagos to the far reaches of Sokoto and Calabar, these companies have turned inter-state transport into a structured, high-volume enterprise.
This report is not meant to set up a paradox or downplay the importance of state-run bus systems or informal motor park operators, which also play indispensable roles in Nigeria’s transport landscape. Rather, it highlights the specific contributions of private companies that have built scalable, formalized mass transit operations with verifiable footprints and significant economic impact. It’s important to note that while there are many transport operators across the country, this story focuses on companies and founders for whom substantial and publicly verifiable data exists either through official websites, historical records, or independent points of contact within the industry.
These include companies with trackable operations, documented growth trajectories, and active engagement with customers and regulators alike. Despite challenges like poor road infrastructure and rising fuel costs, these local transit giants have remained resilient, keeping the wheels turning for millions. In this edition, we explore how Nigeria’s transport sector thrives on local ownership, innovation, and the drive to connect a nation on the move.
- Godwin Ubaka Okeke, Founder GUO Transport
In the wake of the Nigerian Civil War, a young Godwin Ubaka Okeke began offering rides in his father’s car. It was a modest endeavor, born of necessity, but one that would eventually grow into a transportation empire. Now a billionaire and widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost transport magnates, Okeke, known simply as GUO, founded GUO Transport Ltd, a leading intercity bus service and subsidiary of G. U. Okeke & Sons Ltd. Over the decades, the company has become a household name across Nigeria’s highways, offering passenger and logistics services that span major cities and regional corridors.
GUO Transport Company Ltd was founded in 1980 as a division of G. U. Okeke & Sons Ltd. GUO Transport operates an extensive terminal network across Nigeria, with a strong presence in major urban centers and regional capitals. The company maintains multiple terminals in Lagos, including Agege, Ajah, Alaba, Coker, and Ejigbo, catering to the densely populated commercial hub. In Abuja, the nation’s capital, GUO serves commuters through terminals in Gwagwalada, Gwarinpa, and Utako.
- Frank Nneji, Founder ABC Transport
Frank Nneji, a transportation industry veteran with over 30 years of leadership at the helm of ABC, is an alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Lagos Business School. In 2023, he transitioned from his long-serving role as Managing Director and now chairs Transit Support Services Ltd, continuing his involvement in shaping the future of transportation in Nigeria. ABC Transport Plc began operations on February 13, 1993, as a spin-off of Rapido Ventures, with a bold mission to modernize Nigeria’s road passenger transport system. Founded by Frank Nneji, OON, the company set a new standard for structured, customer-oriented long-distance travel in the country.
A major milestone came in March 2003 when Capital Alliance Private Equity (CAPE) acquired a 30% stake in the company. The strategic partnership, through Capital Alliance (Nigeria), injected fresh capital and expertise, positioning ABC Transport for regional growth and operational excellence. ABC Transport operates from ultra-modern terminals both within Nigeria and in neighboring West African cities. These facilities feature comfortable passenger lounges and are located in key cities such as Lagos (Jibowu and Amuwo-Odofin), Aba, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu, Onitsha, Umuahia, Jos, Mbaise, Bolade, and Accra, Ghana, underscoring the company’s broad geographic reach and cross-border service ambitions.
- Chief Samuel Maduka Onyishi (MON), Founder Peace Mass Transit
Chief Samuel Maduka Onyishi (MON) founded Peace Mass Transit (PMT) in 1995 with just two buses. Today, the company operates over 3,000 vehicles across Nigeria, serving major cities including Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Aba, and Port Harcourt. Known for providing affordable and reliable inter-city travel, PMT has become a household name in Nigeria’s transportation sector. Onyishi’s entrepreneurial journey began alongside his education. Between 1994 and 1996, he earned a diploma in Social Work and Community Development from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he graduated as the best student.
He completed his degree there in 1999 with a second-class upper. He later earned an MBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona’s Institute for Transformative Thought and Learning and furthered his studies at the London School of Economics. A philanthropist and education advocate, Onyishi also founded Maduka University, where he serves as Chancellor. His investments reflect a deep commitment to empowering youth and strengthening Nigeria’s future through education.
- Chidi Ajaere, CEO, God Is Good Motors (GIGM)
Founded in 1998 by Deacon Edwin Ajaere, God Is Good Motors (GIGM) set out to revolutionize road transport in Nigeria. Introducing practices such as online booking and luxury bus services, GIGM quickly distinguished itself as a leader in the sector. After Ajaere’s passing in 2009, his son Chidi Ajaere took over, modernizing the brand and launching GIG Mobility (GIGMOB), a distinct entity with its own assets and operations. Under his leadership, GIGM expanded its reach and deepened its digital capabilities. Today, the company has a wide coverage area across Nigeria, operating in key cities including Lagos, Abuja, Benin City, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Owerri, Uyo, Warri, and more. It also runs cross-border routes to Ghana, offering intercity services to Accra and Kumasi, further cementing its status as a West African transport leader.
In 2012, the group launched GIG Logistics (GIGL) as a subsidiary focused on courier and delivery solutions. Headquartered in Lagos, GIGL offers real-time shipment tracking, e-commerce logistics, and on-demand delivery through its GIGGo app. With offices in Houston, Texas (established in 2017) and Ghana (2019), GIGL employs over 1,000 staff and continues to push the boundaries
- Chief Dr. Chidi Anyaegbu (MFR), Founder Chisco Transport
Founded in 1981 by Chief Dr. Chidi Anyaegbu (MFR), Chisco Transport began as a modest spare parts retail business in southeastern Nigeria. Today, it stands as a leading player in West Africa’s transportation and logistics sector, with over 500 fleet capacity, extensive warehousing and distribution networks, and more than 35 years of operational experience. Headquartered in Nigeria, Chisco Transport provides road transport services across major cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Onitsha, while also serving international routes to Togo, Accra (Ghana), and Abidjan (Benin Republic). Its footprint across the West African coast makes it one of the few indigenous transport companies with reliable cross-border operations.
Dr. Anyaegbu, who also serves as Chairman and CEO of the Chisco Group, has expanded the company into a multifaceted conglomerate with interests in oil and gas, hospitality, courier services, and real estate. He holds several prestigious honors, including being a Distinguished Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (International), London, an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria, and a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). In 1996, he received an honorary doctorate in Business Administration from Penn State University, USA.
- Chief Vincent Obianodo, Founder of The Young Shall Grow Motors
Chief Vincent Obianodo is the founder of The Young Shall Grow Motors, one of Nigeria’s largest and most respected transport companies. Born in Neni, Anambra State, Chief Obianodo’s journey into business began with humble beginnings. After moving to Kano in search of better opportunities, he started out repairing punctured tyres, an in-demand skill at the time. His dedication to quality service soon attracted a steady stream of customers.
Not long after, he transitioned into the transport sector as a bus conductor. By 1972, he had saved enough to purchase his first minibus, starting a small transport service on the Enugu–Onitsha route. A year later, he moved operations to Lagos and added two locally assembled Mercedes-Benz 911 buses to his fleet. Thanks to his keen understanding of the transport business and a reputation for excellent customer service, his company grew rapidly. By the late 1970s, he had introduced interstate services and luxury buses, expanding his routes and earning customer loyalty. In 1984, he formally incorporated The Young Shall Grow Motors, which today operates over 1,000 buses across Nigeria and West Africa.
- Prince Emeka Mamah, CEO, Ifesinachi Transport Limited
Prince Emeka Mamah, Group Managing Director of Ifesinachi Transport Limited, oversees one of Nigeria’s most recognized transport companies, a business built on the back of a single truck and a father’s unrelenting resolve. Today, the company operates a fleet of more than 200 luxury buses and 500 Toyota Hiace vehicles, connecting major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, and those across Nigeria’s Eastern corridor. With over 3,500 employees, Ifesinachi Transport has become a staple of Nigeria’s intercity mobility network.
But long before Emeka Mamah stepped into the executive office, the company’s foundation was laid by his father, the late James Ogbonnaya Mamah—a man whose journey from orphaned child to industrialist is woven into the very identity of the business. Born on April 14, 1942, James Mamah lost his father at an early age and was raised under tough economic conditions.
After completing primary school in the late 1950s, with no means to pursue further education, he worked as a houseboy in Onitsha. Like many young Nigerians of his generation, he relied on hard labor to stay afloat. It was in Sapele, working as a manual laborer, that he began saving money, eventually returning to Onitsha to purchase a single truck in 1965. That modest investment marked the beginning of a business that would evolve into the Ifesinachi Group of Companies. The company was formally incorporated in 1981 as Ifesinachi Industries Nigeria Limited. Under Mamah’s leadership, it grew from a one-man haulage venture into a major indigenous player in Nigeria’s transportation sector.
