Oak Heirs Expands Into Industrial Gases with Acquisition of Air Liquide Nigeria PLC

Oak Heirs Limited, a Nigerian investment holding company headed by Gbotemi Kuti, made a major move in May 2025 by snapping up an 87.13% controlling stake in Air Liquide Nigeria PLC. With this deal, Oak Heirs steps into Nigeria’s essential industrial gases and medical oxygen supply sector—an industry that’s becoming more critical every day.

A strategic exit meets a bold entry

This acquisition comes on the heels of Air Liquide Afrique’s decision to restructure its operations and pull back from certain markets across Africa. With full legal backing from AELEX, all the I’s were dotted and the T’s crossed—compliance boxes checked. Importantly, Air Liquide Nigeria remains listed on the NASD OTC Exchange, keeping its position in the Nigerian market intact.

Meeting Nigeria’s rising demand

With a population now pushing past 223 million, Nigeria’s need for reliable industrial and medical gases—think oxygen for hospitals or nitrogen for manufacturing—is only growing. That’s where Oak Heirs sees major potential. By shifting focus to local production, they’re looking to untangle supply chain kinks, cut down on costly imports, and pour investments into the country’s vital healthcare infrastructure and industrial backbone.

Homegrown vision for a healthier, stronger Nigeria

This isn’t just another corporate buyout. It’s a bet on Nigeria’s future. With local leadership at the helm and a long-term commitment to building up capacity on home soil, Oak Heirs aims to transform how industrial gases in Nigeria are produced and delivered—making life-saving products like medical oxygen more accessible, more affordable, and more reliable than ever before.